Faces of the First World War

French refugees in 1918

Armistice Day sees the launch of a collaborative blog, based in the Department of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies (CLAS), to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

1914-2014: a portrait gallery will profile the individual stories of the wartime relatives and family friends of University staff and students.

Dr Kay Chadwick, Reader in French Historical Studies, who is leading the project, said: “The blog focuses on the human history of the First World War.

”It represents a great opportunity to take advantage of the international nature of the University community to look afresh at the First World War from different perspectives, in order to bring alive what may feel like a remote event, to commemorate our ancestors, and to prompt reflection on processes of memory.

“If anyone in your family still remembers someone who lived through the First World War, or knows a story about someone who did, then please contribute to the project, and tell their story.”

The launch stories on the blog feature four different wartime experiences lived by relatives of staff in CLAS. Further details about the project and how to participate can be found at: http://clasgallery.wordpress.com/ . Comments and queries can be sent to faces@liverpool.ac.uk .

1914-2014: a portrait gallery is part of the Imperial War Museum’s (IWM) Centenary Partnership, a network of over a thousand local, regional, national and international cultural and educational organisations from twenty-seven countries worldwide. Its aim is to enable millions of people across the globe to discover more about life in the First World War.

If members of staff or students have any projects or plans in place to mark the centenary of the First World War, then please contact Sarah Stamper in Corporate Communications.