University to help mark centenary of WWI at major BBC event
Published On Wed 30 Jul 2014 by Grant Hill
The University of Dundee will be heavily represented when the BBC World War One At Home Tour reaches the city later this week.
The BBC is working alongside the Great War Dundee (GWD) Partnership, Dundee City Council and Leisure & Culture Dundee to deliver a free, family friendly commemorative event at the City Square on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd August.
University historians Dr Billy Kenefick and Dr Derek Patrick co-founded the GWD project and, with partner groups, are coordinating the city-wide approach to commemorate the conflict. The pair, along with Caroline Brown, from the University’s Archives Services, will be discussing the project’s aims and findings with host Larry Lamb at the event.
They will talk about how their research has led to startling discoveries about Dundee’s contribution to the war effort as well as a greater understanding of how this was influenced by contemporary socio-economic conditions and the conflict’s legacy on the shores of the Tay. They will also explore the role of the Black Watch and the experiences of a Dundee soldier through the writings of poet and artist Joseph Lee.
The University’s Joot Theatre Company will perform war poetry, including verse written by Lee, on both Friday and Saturday. The first day of the event will also see Dr Pete Taylor, from the College of Life Sciences at the University, examine the work of Scottish physiologist JS Haldane on air quality for military and civilian populations during WWI.
Caroline Brown said, “This is a fantastic opportunity to bring together local institutions, organisations and people to commemorate the start of the Great War. One of our main aims is to encourage a greater understanding of what life was like for both those involved and those who stayed at home. We are looking forward to engaging with visitors and getting across the impact that the events of 1914-18 have had on the Dundee of today.”
Dr Kenefick added, “We are delighted to be taking part in the BBC World War One at Home Project, and the fact that Dundee was chosen as one of the tour venues is testament to the hard work of everyone involved in GWD. The War has huge significance for Scotland, and this is a chance to tell some of the stories that reflect the individuals’ experience of the conflict, whether at home or in the trenches. Dundee’s contribution to the war effort was immense, and it is an honour and a privilege to be sharing the city’s story at this prestigious event.”
Hands-on activities, performances and interactive sessions designed to appeal to everyone from eight to 80 will take place at the City Square and Caird Hall from 10am-5pm on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd August.
Larry Lamb will host the Briefing Room in Caird Hall, presenting a series of enlightening talks with expert contributors covering a whole host of World War One topics. He will be joined by broadcaster and historian Paul Murton, who will discuss how research into his own family history uncovered some inspiring and tragic connections to World War One.
The event will offer the opportunity to reflect on the dramatic impact the war had on families and communities, as well as helping people to explore their own relatives’ links to the war with Imperial War Museums' 'Lives of the First World War'.
Visitors can volunteer to be put through their paces on an outdoor Parade Ground. Children can take on Harriet's Spy Quest, inspired by upcoming CBBC drama Harriet's Army, as they try to solve a series of clues around the site.
People can also learn how medicine and communications were transformed during the war. Demonstrations of how carrier pigeons were an invaluable resource for sending messages will take place, while visitors can try using Morse code, Semaphore, Field Telephones and radio equipment with the help of The Royal Signals Museum.
The Royal College of Pathologists will show how developments in science helped to save the lives of injured soldiers, whilst the Cavell Nurses’ Trust will demonstrate the role of World War One nurses.
The GWD Partnership’s commemorations also include a service in City Square on Saturday, 2nd August at 12.30pm, organised by Dundee Combined Ex-services Association in conjunction with Dundee City Council. The bells will ring in St Paul’s Cathedral each day from 10am.
World War One At Home is an ambitious, large-scale project that will bring more than a thousand powerful stories to life – all linked to specific places across the UK and Ireland – in a way never told before.
It will uncover surprising stories about familiar neighbourhoods where the wounded were treated, major scientific developments happened, prisoners of war were held and where heroes are buried. In what will be a unique broadcasting event, 1,400 stories (100 stories from each of eleven BBC regions, and the three BBC Nations with an additional 100 Welsh language stories from BBC Cymru Wales) will feature on BBC regional TV and Local Radio in England, as well as on national programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Funding to enable researchers to work with the BBC project has been provided by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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