The impact of the First World War, which lasted from 1914 to 1918 and claimed the lives of over 9.5 million people, was unprecedented at the time. Yet with only three surviving veteran soldiers remaining, this cataclysmic event in the history of modern Europe is on the brink of disappearing from living memory.
This summer, Culturenet Cymru is working in partnership with Cardiff University to gather as much information as possible about the impact of the First World War on the people of Wales through a community digitisation project called Welsh Voices of the Great War On-line.
Funded by the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) and inspired by Oxford University’s Great War Archive, the project aims to locate and gather digitised images and information associated with the First World War which is in the hands of the public.
Between July and October, a Welsh Voices of the Great War On-line roadshow is visiting seven locations in Wales, including The National Library of Wales, to scan and photograph material. Five have already been held in St Fagans, Wrexham, Aberystwyth, Newport and Swansea, and the remaining two will be held in Blaenavon on 18 September and Llanberis on 2 October.
A vast amount of interesting material has come to light, including this lighter which was customised using a Guards Machine Gun Regiment button, as well as several poignant stories associated with the items. You’ll be able to see all of these items and stories on the People’s Collection Wales website soon.
Don’t worry if you missed the roadshow event in your area and have material that may be of interest to the project. You can contact the project manager or submit your own digital scans or photographs, as well as find information on the remaining roadshow events, on the Welsh Voices of the Great War On-line website. www.welshvoices.com.
Dafydd Tudur
Culturenet Cymru