NATIONS CALL - Our Place in The First World War

Lead Research Organisation: University of the West of England
Department Name: Faculty of Business and Law

Abstract

At the broadest level, my research interests are in the relations of history and memory with organization, organizations and organizing. I was the founding editor of the refereed journal, Management & Organizational History (originally SAGE, now Taylor & Francis). I have a longstanding interest in public memory, battlefield tourism, and in commemorative processes and artefacts; and have published articles on social remembering, on so-called 'dark tourism', and on official narratives and their counter-narratives. A manuscript on memorialisation and landscape is in preparation. I am also working with Kent Fedorowich on a longer term prosopographical study of the thousands of British migrants who returned from overseas in dominion armies to fight for King, Country and Empire between 1914 and 1919.
 
Description It should be borne in mind that this award was to fund academic public engagement and historical consultancy support for the BBC in the 'World War One at Home' project, rather than to fund academic research.

As such there are no findings, in the traditional accepted sense, associated with the project.

However, both the funder and the BBC have adjudged the World War One at Home project a success (although detailed impact metrics are still in development). From informal feedback, it appears likely that:
1. The project forms a replicable basis for future RCUK-funded public engagement projects
2. The project was successful in its objectives as to capacity building and inter-sectoral learning in UK HEIs
Exploitation Route Similarly successful partnerships might be formed by (a) funding historians and other humanities academics to work in a similar way with partners in the cultural sectors and beyond, and/or (b) further extending opportunities for public engagement in all publicly funded humanities and social science projects
Sectors Creative Economy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Other
URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01nhwgx
 
Description It should be borne in mind that this award was to fund academic public engagement and historical consultancy support for the BBC in the 'World War One at Home' project, rather than to fund academic research. As such there are no findings, in the traditional accepted sense, associated with the project. However, both the funder and the BBC have adjudged the World War One at Home project a success (although detailed impact metrics are still in development). Please see Collaboration & Partnerships and Engagement Activities sections for more specific details.
First Year Of Impact 2014
Sector Creative Economy,Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Other
Impact Types Cultural,Societal
 
Description Bristol 2014 
Organisation Bristol Cultural Development Partnership
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution The co-investigators (Booth and Fedorowich) served on the advisory committee of the HLF-funded Bristol 2014 project, organised and led by the Bristol Cultural Development Partnership Booth and Fedorowich both contributed chapters (see publications) to "Bristol and the First World War: The Great Reading Adventure", a free book distributed to 20,000 readers across the city of Bristol via schools, colleges, museums, libraries and other partners. Fedorowich contributed an article to the project website: 'From Flesh and Bone to Bronze and Stone': World War One Memorials in Bristol., October 2014, http://www.bristol2014.com/articles/from-flesh-and-bone-to-bronze-and-stone-world-war-one-memorials-in-bristol.html#.Vt8UvZyLTIU
Collaborator Contribution Bristol Cultural Development Partnership developed and delivered the successful funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, enabling the "Moved by Conflict" exhibition (Bristol Museums Galleries and Archives - see other Collaborations and Partnerships page), and many other activities and events across the city - see project website below
Impact Public engagement with local history and heritage connected to the First World War
Start Year 2013
 
Description Moved by Conflict Exhibition 
Organisation Bristol City Council
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution The co-investigators served on the advisory committee for the HLF-funded exhibition, "Moved by Conflict", held at MShed Museum, Bristol, 11 October 2014 - 1 March 2015. The co-investigators presented at the Bristol Schools' Conference to accompany the exhibition, 13 October 2014 (https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed/whats-on/moved-conflict-schools-conference/). The co-investigators presented at the Symposium on 'Black and Asian Perspectives of World War One', M-Shed, to accompany the exhibition, 14 February 2015 (https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed/whats-on/black-and-asian-perspectives-on-ww1/). One of the investigators (Booth) led guided walks on Bristol and the First World War, as part of the Bristol Museums' Summer Walk Series, 10 September 20-14 and 9 September 2015.
Collaborator Contribution Our partners hosted, curated and organised the exhibition and associated activities.
Impact Public engagement with First World War local history and heritage generally, and with lesser-known aspects of the conflict in particular
Start Year 2014
 
Description World War One at Home 
Organisation British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Collaboration with the BBC was the main aim of the award. During the pilot project, the co-investigators worked with BBC West to support journalists in developing stories for the project. We were then funded (AH/M50418X/1) to work with BBC South West in a similar role, as well as continuing to work with our original partner. Finally, we were funded to work on the project in a national role (AH/M504178/1) supporting BBC Nations and English Regions, as well as the central team in New Broadcasting House. Our role in working with the BBC was very varied, but included: * Providing academic rigour to the research underpinning stories and to the stories themselves * Fact-checking and reviewing stories before broadcast * Suggesting stories to the journalists * Suggesting contacts to the journalists * Providing historical context to the stories * Providing live and recorded interviews * Attending BBC Road-shows and providing assistance as required to the BBC and members of the public * Acting and historical consultants to the editors of the project e-book (see publications) * In general acting as critical friends for the journalists and their managers
Collaborator Contribution The BBC researched and broadcast the stories developed through the project; hosted the on-line versions of the stories; and developed an interactive e-book covering the work of the project (see publications).
Impact Interactive e-book (see publications) Project website (see above) Public engagement with local history and heritage through consumption of broadcast media, attendance at BBC Roadshows, etc
Start Year 2013
 
Description BBC World War One at Home Live Events and Roadshows 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact As part of the World War One at Home project, the BBC organised and delivered a number of Roadshows and other live events. Footfall was often considerable (for example, the Bristol event drew over 22,000 visitors). Co-investigators gave presentations, live interviews (in front of the public and on air), and were present to answer queries from attendees.

Events contributed to were:
Royal Cornish Show, Wadebridge, 6-7 June 2014 - Extra BBC Event organised locally through BBC Radio Cornwall outside the formal Roadshow programme (Kent Fedorowich)
Bristol Balloon Fiesta, 8-10 August 2014 (Charles Booth and Kent Fedorowich). Footfall of 22,000 people over the three day event.
Okehampton Show, Devon, 14 August 2014 (Charles Booth and Kent Fedorowich). Footfall of 3,000 people for the one day event.
Gloucester History Festival, 10 September 2014 (Charles Booth)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/ww1-home-tour
 
Description Talks and Presentations to Local History Groups and Societies 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Talks relating to the World War One at Home project relating the the First World War and its impact on Bristol and the region have been presented as follows:
Yate Heritage Centre, 1 July 2014
Bristol Law Society, 30 September 2014
Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust, 11 June 2014, 25 April 2015
Bristol Rotary Club, 1 December 2014
Minchinhampton Local History Society, 17 March 2015
Bristol Commonwealth Society, 15 October 2015
Stoke Bishop Local History Society, 21 October 2015
Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, 30 November 2015

These talks have been generally well-attended (up to 50 people present in most cases). They sparked lively discussion and debate, and in some cases have resulted in requests for further presentations, or proposals for joint research activity.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014,2015
 
Description Television Appearances (BBC West and South West) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press)
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact TV appearances linked to the World War One at Home Project were as follows:
Kent Fedorowich, 7 August 2014 'Canadians at Plymouth' (BBC Spotlight - BBC South West)
Kent Fedorowich and Charles Booth, 5 August 2014 'Bristol, Empire and World War One' (BBC Points West)
Charles Booth, 11 November 2014, 'Laurence Binyon - For the Fallen' (BBC Spotlight - BBC South West).

BBC audience research on their WW1 coverage has concluded that:
* By September 2014, over half over the people who consumed BBC content had a fair understanding of the events of WW1.
* Awareness of local impact was low at the end of 2013, but grew in 2014.
* There is an audience appetite for more WW1 content. In June 2015, the majority of the audience agreed they had seen just the right amount of WW1 content, indicating they do not feel any fatigue. Far more agree there has been 'too little' rather than 'too much' WW1 content.
* In June 2015, 51% of the UK public said they 'would like to know more about WW1', showing interest in this area remains strong.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014