Logo close icon

Middlesex team search for First World War stories

24/02/2014
Stories of the First World War from those who served in the Middlesex Regiment lost in ‘family folklore’ are to be rescued thanks to a team of Middlesex University students. They want to hear from anyone who has a family story or pictures to share.

Stories of the First World War from those who served in the Middlesex Regiment lost in ‘family folklore’ are to be rescued thanks to a team of Middlesex University students. They want to hear from anyone who has a family story or pictures to share.
 
The team is searching for stories from decedents of those who served in the Middlesex Regiment during the First World War, in particular stories of soldiers from commonwealth countries. The regiment, which was sent to the Western Front in January 1915, included people from across the county of Middlesex, which spanned across much of north and west London.

Led by Middlesex University professor of journalism practice and BBC journalist Kurt Barling,
alongside pioneering oral history organisation Eastside Community Heritage the Middlesex students will record the stories of those whose ancestors served in the Middlesex Regiment in the First World War.
 
The exciting new project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is a partnership between Middlesex University and Eastside Community Heritage, which is based in East London and holds an archive of around 30,000 hours of recorded oral history material.
 
The students will document, record and interpret the experiences of soldiers who served in the Middlesex Regiment between 1914 and 1918. A travelling exhibition for schools including stories from descendents, family photographs and memorabilia will make its way across the county of Middlesex once the project is completed.
 
The Middlesex Regiment was formed in 1881 and was one of the principal home counties based regiments spanning the whole county of Middlesex.
 
Professor Barling said: “The stories of these unknown heroes currently live on in family folklore. This project presents a chance, and one time opportunity, to gather these stories before it is too late and re-tell the lost and forgotten stories of contributions and sacrifices that Empire and Commonwealth soldiers made during the Great War”.
 
To share family stories, photographs, or to find out more about the project, contact Professor Kurt Barling or Eastside Community Heritage.

In this section

Back to top