11 November 2013

'Dundee and the Great War: perspectives on a city at war' - Engage Dundee lecture on 14th November

New perspectives on how Dundonians viewed World War I during the time of the conflict will be shared by historians from the University of Dundee this week.

Dr Billy Kenefick and Dr Derek Patrick, leading members of the Great War Dundee commemoration project, will deliver a lecture, entitled 'Dundee and the Great War: perspectives on a city at war' at the University's Dalhousie Building on Thursday, 14th November.

Dundee gave an astonishing 63 per cent of eligible men to the armed forces during the war, and 4,213 Dundonians never returned home. At almost 16 per cent, this was a casualty rate double that of Glasgow and one of the highest of any British city. Whilst these figures illustrate the strength of support for the cause in Dundee, they only tell one part of the story.

The city was also a leading centre of the anti-war movement in Scotland. After the introduction of the Military Service Act in January 1916, Dundee gained a formidable reputation for its support of the No-Conscription Fellowship and the campaign to bring a peaceful end to war.

This movement was actively supported by the Dundee branch of the Independent Labour Party and Prohibitionist Edwin Scrymgeour, who would go on to be elected to Parliament at the 1922 General Election in which Winston Churchill lost his Dundee seat.

Dr Kenefick said, 'In this lecture we give a somewhat different view of Dundee and its relationship to the Great War. The fact so many Dundee men volunteered to fight is remarkable, but the situation is more complex than it might first appear.

'The conflict stirred up a wide variety of emotions and responses, and we aim to offer a flavour of some of the other untold stories of a city at war including the prominent position of the Dundee press.'

The talk takes place as part of the Engage Dundee Evening Lecture series. Organised to showcase the work of academics within the University's College of Arts & Social Sciences, lectures are part of a wider Engage Dundee initiative by CASS to disseminate knowledge locally and globally in order to make a positive difference to the social and cultural wellbeing of society.

The Great War Dundee project has been launched to ensure the legacy of the war is remembered in the countdown to the 100th anniversary of its outbreak in August 2014. Many events have been planned in the run-up to the centenary, including exhibitions, concerts, lectures and other public events.

'Dundee and the Great War: perspectives on a city at war' takes place in the University's Dalhousie Building at 5.30pm on Thursday, 14th November.

The lecture is free and will be followed by a drinks reception. Places can be reserved by calling 01382 381184 or emailing cassoffice@dundee.ac.uk.

More information is available at www.dundee.ac.uk/cass/events/

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
MOBILE: 07854 953277