Reflections on the Centenary of the First World War: Learning and Legacies for the Future

Lead Research Organisation: University of Brighton
Department Name: Sch of Humanities

Abstract

Between 2014 and 2018 Britain, together with many other nations, is commemorating the centenary of the First World War: the first 'total' war of the Twentieth Century, the legacies of which live on in a range of institutional, educational, geographic, political, social and cultural forms. At the outset of the centenary, a particular 'cultural memory' of the war dominated in Britain, one described by the then Education Minister Michael Gove as a 'Blackadder myth..designed to belittle Britain and its leaders'. (Daily Mail, 2 January 2014). This project sets out both the evaluate the extent to which the range of commemorative activities undertaken since 2014 has engaged with, challenged or changed this 'myth', and the experience and outcomes of projects that are built on academic-public engagement and the co-production of knowledge, especially those involving the AHRC Public Engagement Centres.

This overall aim of this research project is threefold: to evaluate activities during the centenary period of the First World War in the United Kingdom in order to trace and analyse shifting patterns of cultural memory; to evaluate these activities in order to assess how successful they have been in involving diverse members of the community in their production and reception; and to consider the lessons and legacies of these projects for a range of stakeholders involved in planning for future anniversaries and events. It thus builds on and extends the AHRC project AH/KO53241, 'The First World War in the Classroom', on which Pennell, CoI here, was PI. Using a spectrum of quantitative and qualitative research techniques and digital technologies, it will provide a detailed overview of the range of commemorative activities which took place in Britain between 2014-2018, with a particular focus on the experience and legacies of the collaborations between a range of HLF-funded projects and AHRC First World War Engagement Centres. It will situate these in the wider context of changes and developments in public discourse about the war and the ways in which it is remembered and represented, considering the relationship between different forms of historical research and public histories in the local, regional, and national contexts.

The project will thus provide essential context to the work of the AHRC and HLF in tandem with the Engagement Centres during the commemorative period. Whilst the project will reflect upon commemorative activities in their widest sense, it will focus in particular on four broad areas of commemoration identified as key to public engagement with the First World War in the centenary period: heritage and remembrance, intergenerational transmission of memories and 'hidden histories', arts and culture, and the development of new physical and digital memorials. These have been chosen as they provide opportunities to: a) reflect on the ways the arts and culture sector has engaged with and represented the conflict (Hanna); b) assess the legacies of the centenary for young people and 'hard to reach' groups (Pennell); c) to investigate the role the internet has played in the centenary period (Hughes), and; d) to consider the impact of the centenary on aspects of memorialisation, heritage and commemoration (Noakes). Again, all of these areas will be primarily examined via projects involving the Engagement Centres. The Investigators on the project share a background of published and funded research into the First World War, and also bring a range of other specific expertise to the project which relates to the area of the project on which they will take a lead.

Planned Impact

This project has been designed in order that the widest possible range of stakeholders and audiences may benefit from the research undertaken and disseminated. With this in mind, we have designed a range of activities that involve community participants alongside academics, museum and heritage professionals and representatives from a range of third sector organisations, and a range of outputs that will be accessible by, and impact upon, all of these groups in a range of different ways.

These activities include two reflective workshops involving members of community projects that have marked the centenary of the First World War in various ways. The workshops will be held outside of a formal University setting in order to enable the widest possible participation. In addition, the project team will participate in the Legacies of War and Peace Engagement Centre Research Festival planned for 2019. This will both enable us to share our findings thus far and to engage in conversations with academic, community and heritage professional stakeholders who have participated in centenary activities, incorporating these into the Project Report.

The project is a flagship case study for UK government and public sector agencies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund and others (for example the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours programme) working on projects that revolve around academic-community partnerships. The material produced by the project can be drawn upon to inform future practice and approaches to similar high profile events such as the forthcoming round of Second World War anniversaries. The final report, publicly accessible online, will both be a resource for these, and other organisations (Higher Education institutions, museums and heritage sector professionals, and third sector organisations), when planning such activities in the future, and will be a record of the range of commemorative activities undertaken during the centenary period. The report will also provide the HLF, the AHRC and Higher Education partners with data mapping the involvement of different communities in the commemorations, enabling reflection on the extent to which these included diverse groups and planning for future activities with the largest possible reach.

The planned panel at the Association of Critical Heritage Studies Biannual Conference in 2018 and special edition of the Association's Journal will spread knowledge of the centenary projects among an international audience of academics and heritage practitioners, thus having the potential to inform future collaborations and best practice in an international setting.

Finally, feedback on impact will be collected throughout the project, on questionnaires distributed to participants at Reflective Workshops and symposia, from audience comments on webpages, in focus groups with community partners in commemorative projects, and via online questionnaires distributed to community and academic participants in commemorative projects, and during interviews with participants.

Publications

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Hughes, Lorna M. (2021) Centenary (Internet) in 1914-1918-Online: International Encyclopedia of the First World War

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Noakes, L (2017) Reflections on the First World War Centenaries in Local History News

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Pennell, C (2021) Centenary (Education, Pedagogy, Youth Programs) in 1914-1918-Online: International Encyclopedia of the First World War

 
Description Please see the findings associated with Award reference RH/R001375/2. The award transferred with me from the University of Brighton to the University of Essex in September 2017, so all outcomes etc are recorded there.
Exploitation Route Please see details in RH/R001375/2
Sectors Education

Environment

Culture

Heritage

Museums and Collections

 
Title Reflections on the Centenary of the First World War Online Survey 
Description We created an online survey designed to collect quantitative and qualitative information on participation in First World War centenary events. We advertised this via our website and the five AHRC First World War Public Engagement centres. It was completed by 126 people. The survey was open from November 2017 until July 2018 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The summary and initial analysis of findings (including demographic analysis of those who completed the survey) will be deposited in the UK Data Archive at the end of this project. This summary was completed in autumn 2018. The summary and analysis has also been sent to the Reflections on the Centenary project Advisory Board, which includes representatives from the AHRC, the Imperial War Museum, the Commonwealth war Graves Commission, the five First World War Engagement Centres and an expert in heritage studies. 
 
Description 'Commemoration Reframed' Network 
Organisation Commemoration Reframed
Sector Learned Society 
PI Contribution Emma Hanna and James Wallis both acted as representatives of the 'Commemoration Reframed' network, attending biannual meetings at the CEGESOMA Archive in Brussels. Coordinated by Professor Shanti Sumartojo (Monash), this initiative brought together 19 linked research projects conducted by 23 scholars in 12 countries, all seeking to open up new ways to conceptualise commemoration based on how people experience it. The link with 'Reflections on the Centenary' arose through James's connections with Shanti via a previous research project, especially as the network was keen to have UK First World War centenary representation .
Collaborator Contribution James Wallis, Lucy Noakes and Emma Hanna all contributed review and method papers towards five half-day workshop events held in Brussels between September 2017 and March 2019. Emma and James agreed to conduct specific site-based research on the 11th November 2018, as part of the auspices of this project, having already contributed towards the two 'Commemoration Reframed' position papers listed on the project website.
Impact Emma and James have both contributed individual published chapters towards a forthcoming edited volume 'Experiencing 11th November 2018' (Bloomsbury Press). James also presented his research findings as part of a multidisciplinary themed session at the Memory Studies Conference, held in Madrid in July 2019, with fellow network contributors. The network has a strong interdisciplinary focus, as a result of its members hailing from diverse fields such as Psychology, Heritage Studies, Design Research, History and Tourism Studies.
Start Year 2017
 
Description 'Curating the Great War' Conference, held at Imperial War Museum. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact James Wallis gave a paper titled 'The Imperial War Museum - A Space of Conflict' at this conference.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/curating-the-great-war
 
Description 'Reflections on the Centenary' postcards 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact James Wallis and Lucy Noakes produced 'Reflections on the Centenary' postcards, subsequently printed by the University of Essex. These featured the question 'What has the First World War Centenary meant to you?'. Respondents could take them away with them, and anonymously jot down musings and personal reflections (be those supportive or critical). Stamps were included, and pre-printed with James' University of Essex work address. The portable format allowed these postcards to be handed out at themed events, which included a number being placed at the exit of the 'Shrouds of the Somme' installation at the Olympic Park in London (November 2018).

Received responses will be incorporated into the research findings of the broader 'Reflections on the Centenary' project.

In January 2019, James gave a presentation on this research methodology at a meeting of the Imperial War Museum's Institute for the Public Understanding of War and Conflict (as one of its Associates).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018,2019
 
Description (with Catriona Pennell) Article for Local History Newsletter 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact With Dr Catriona Pennell, wrote a short piece for the Local History newsletter publicising the work of the AHRC Reflections on the Centenary of the First World War project and the launch of the related online survey.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Attended 2-day Engagement Centres meeting, Birmingham 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Attended 2-day Engagement Centres meeting at the University of Birmingham, for both Gateways and Reflections projects.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description BBC Radio Five Live Interviews, Remembrance Sunday 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact I gave three live interviews on BBC Radio Five Live Interviews, at Folkestone Beach on Remembrance Sunday during 14-18NOW's 'Pages of the Sea' event.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00012rz
 
Description Blogpost on Journeys End ahead of the latest release 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Authored a blogpost on 'Journey's End' ahead of the film's latest release, which was published on the project's website. This blogpost garnered quite a few retweets on Twitter, including tweets from the studio who made the film as well as a few of the actors who appear in the feature.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://reflections1418.exeter.ac.uk/category/blog/
 
Description Centenary Reflections on the Entente Alliance Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Chaired a panel on Gateways' Centenary Reflections on the Entente Alliance Event, November 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.gatewaysfww.org.uk/events/entente-alliance
 
Description Commemoration Reframed First Workshop, CEGESOMA, Brussels, 5th October 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact James Wallis gave a presentation about the 'Reflections on the Centenary' project, now available on the network's website. The network is interdisciplinary and international (primarily Belgian, French and Australian), with a focus of bringing together academics working on commemoration more broadly, to conduct comparative research on the experience of commemoration. This workshop saw ideas pitched for future research, and the creation of a co-authored position paper (available via https://www.commemorationreframed.com/position-papers/). 'Reflections on the Centenary' were invited to participate as UK representatives.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.commemorationreframed.com/
 
Description Commemoration Reframed meeting, CEGESOMA Brussels 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Delivered a presentation and participated in a one day meeting for the 'Commemoration Reframed' project at CEGESOMA Brussels.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Conference Paper at Queens University Belfast, Why Public History Conference, 8th December 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Gave a conference paper at the 'Why Public History?' Conference, held at Queens University Belfast. This discussed the scope of the 'Reflections on the Centenary' project, and promoted the presence of the survey to a group of multi-discipline academics. A fellow panellist expressed a keenness to contribute a recorded interview for the project, based on his recent research working with an arts organisation based in Birmingham.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Conference attendance: Reflections on the Commemoration of WW1 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Delivered a paper on our research project at this conference.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.canterbury100.org.nz/conference-reflections-commemoration-world-war-one
 
Description Creation of online public survey for Reflections on the Centenary of the First World War 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Online survey, ongoing, to collect information on the public response to, and engagement with, a range of First World War centenary commemorative events, projects, media coverage etc. The survey is open until July 2018, so cannot record any impact yet. Material from the survey will be used by the Reflections project team and held by the UK Data Archive for future researchers.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017,2018
URL https://exeter.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/reflections-on-the-centenary-of-the-first-world-war
 
Description Cultures of Commemoration IWM Workshop 11 December 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Presentation of work from various research projects: AHRC FWW in the Classroom; AHRC Teaching and Learning War Research Network; and AHRC Reflections project as part of a panel discussion on commemorative practice of the First World War and the impact of the centenary on young people/education.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Cultures of Commemoration Seminar Series, University of Oxford, 10th November 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact James Wallis acted as a Panellist for the 'Why Remember? War and Memory Today' Early Career Researcher Workshop, alongside Dr Emma Login (Historic England) and Dr Kevin Waite (University of Durham). This formed part of the 'Cultures of Commemoration' network organised by Dr Alice Kelly (University of Oxford), delivered via an interdisciplinary seminar series. Question-led discussion ran for around an hour.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Cultures of Commemoration Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Plenary talk at Cultures of Commemoration Workshop, Imperial War Museum, December 2017. Audience largely made up of post graduate researchers, academics, artists and museum professionals.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Focus Group with PIs of Engagement Centres 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact I ran a Focus Group with the PIs of the five FWW Engagement Centres for the Reflections project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Focus Group: Highland Archives Centre 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact With Lucy Noakes I ran a Focus Group at the Highland Archives Centre in Inverness in April 2018. The discussion was recorded and will be used for the project's report.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Focus Group: Looking Back, Looking Forward on the Centenary 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact With James Wallis I ran a Focus Group at the Gateways event 'Looking Back, Looking Forward on the Centenary' at the University of Kent in June 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.gatewaysfww.org.uk/events/reflections
 
Description Historical advice and proof reading for schools activity. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact I worked with the Big Ideas Company (who are working with DCMS and DfE) on the creation of material for secondary schools on 'Trailblazers: Remarkable Women of World War One'. This is a lesson plan and series of cards outlining the story of 25 British/British Empire women who were active in different ways in the First World War. I gave historical advice on the women, and advised on the text to be used.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Imperial War Museum Subject Network, Public engagement events. Digital Preservation Tools: Roadshow Presentation, University of Essex 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Three workshops, developed by Lorna Hughes for the Imperial War Museum Subject network. These focussed on digital preservation of community generated digital research.
The events took place at IWM (London); IWM (Manchester) and University of Essex.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019,2020
URL https://www.iwm.org.uk/partnerships/subject-specialist-network
 
Description Interview on BBC Radio Devon about launch of online survey 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Live interview about the Reflections project, what our objectives are, how we're undertaking our research, and promoting the online survey as something the public can participate in. General discussion around the impact of the centenary nationally and internationally based on my expertise.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Interview with HLF project lead, Kings Theatre Portsmouth 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Interview with HLF project lead, Kings Theatre Portsmouth, for the Reflections project report.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Interview with HLF project lead, University of Cardiff 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Interview with HLF project lead, University of Cardiff, to discuss the project 'Dusty's First World War' for the Reflections project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Interviewed Expert Historian 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Interviewed historian Edward Madigan for Reflections project report.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Keynote speaker at WFA and BCMH Conference: The Legacy of the First World War, National Army Museum, London 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Keynote speaker at day-long conference outlining initial findings and reach of Reflections project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Live interview on BBC Radio Cornwall about launch of online survey 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Live interview about the Reflections project, what our objectives are, how we're undertaking our research, and promoting the online survey as something the public can participate in. General discussion around the impact of the centenary nationally and internationally based on my expertise.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Live radio interview with BBC Radio South East 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Live radio interview about contemporary commemoration of the First World War with focus on projects in the South East. Intention was to raise awareness of project's online survey which was launched on the day of the interview. BBC Radio South East also publicised the survey launch on Twitter.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Meeting with team at Flanders Fields Museum, Ypres, Belgium 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Meeting between curatorial team at Flanders Fields Museum Ypres, Gateways team and Reflections. Discussion of the differing ways that the First World War centenary has been represented and organised in Britain and Belgium, and of British audiences for the msueums's displays in Ypres. Conversation recorded for Reflections project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Meeting with team at In Flanders Fields Museum, Ieper, 9 January 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Meeting with team at In Flanders Fields Museum, Ieper, 9 January 2018, also with Lucy Noakes. This meeting discussed varying issues regarding tourism and battlefields visits in the centenary period. This was considered from both business/economic and historiographical perspectives and has paved the way for future discussions and/or interviews which will benefit the work of the Reflections project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Panel at 'Heritage Across Borders' Conference (organised by Association of Critical Heritage Studies). Held at Zhejiang University, Hangzhou (China). 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Professor Lucy Noakes and Dr James Wallis presented individual papers in a session titled 'Heritage, History and the Centenary of the First World War in the United Kingdom, 2014-2018', alongside Dr Sam Carroll (University of Kent) and Professor Alison Fell (University of Leeds).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Panel member, XENOS discussion, Sadler's Wells 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Featured on panel and gave presentation about the centenary of the First World War, putting the Sadlers Wells production of XENOS into context, hosted by the Society for Dance Research at the Institute of Historical Research. Discussed further events with attendees.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Paper delivered at Cultures of Commemoration Workshop, Imperial War Museum, 11 December 2017. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Paper delivered at Cultures of Commemoration Workshop, Imperial War Museum, 11 December 2017. My paper provideda survey of contemporary commemorative activities in Britain from the start of the centenary period. This started discussions with the workshop attendees as well as much debate on Twitter.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://greatwar.history.ox.ac.uk/?p=3132
 
Description Participant in expert panel 'War, Feminine: Women and the Great War', Romanian Cultural Institute, London 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Lucy Noakes participated as a panel member in 'War, Feminine: Women and the Great War' debate on women and the First World War, memory and the centenary in Britain and Romania, held at the Romanian Cultural Institute, London.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.icr-london.co.uk/article/-1270.html
 
Description Participated in Engagement Centres' Research Festival London 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Participated in Engagement Centres' Research Festival London
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Participation in Engagement Centres' Research Festival Cardiff 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Participation in Engagement Centres' Research Festival Cardiff by acting as 'rapporteur' at 'policy breakfast' and attendance and contribution to discussions with HLF project partners over two days.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://ahrc.ukri.org/newsevents/events/calendar/2019-ww1-engagement-centres-festival-legacies-of-th...
 
Description Participation in Great War Debate series, 22 February 2018, Bath 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Participation in Great War Debate series, 22 February 2018, Bath.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Participation in networking event at CEGESOMA, Centre for Historical Research and Documentation on War and Society, Brussels, 9 February 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Participation in networking event at CEGESOMA, Centre for Historical Research and Documentation on War and Society, Brussels. Attended networking workshop on 9 February 2018 with James Wallis to represent the Reflections project and to discuss participating in international research and publication about contemporary commemorative practices worldwide, led by Dr Shanti Sumartojo of the RMIT University in Melbourne. I delivered a short presentation about the Reflections project and on what we know about commemorative events in Britain on 11 November 2018. The event was a very stimulating exchange of ideas and approaches across Europe and beyond, with concrete plans for the network to meet again. Definite publishing commitment made to a publication 'Commemoration Re framed'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Press release regarding launch of Reflections online survey 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Working with the University of Kent's publicity team, a press release was issued to the media to highlight the launch of the project's survey. As a result, BBC Radio South East contacted the university to request a live radio interview which took place on 11th November 2017.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.kent.ac.uk/news/kentlife/15395/historian-helps-capture-legacy-of-britains-ww1-commemorat...
 
Description Press release regarding launch of online Reflections survey, November 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Press release to outline Reflections survey and to encourage people to participate
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/featurednews/title_620826_en.html
 
Description Public website for Reflections on the Centenary of the First World War 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Project team created a website (hosted by the University of Exeter) for the Reflections on the Centenary of the First World War project. Website carries blogposts, latest news and activities, space for comments and requests for information from the public and a link to the online survey.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017,2018
URL http://reflections1418.exeter.ac.uk/
 
Description Reflections Focus Group Cardiff Research Festival 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Study participants or study members
Results and Impact Led a Reflections Focus Group at the Cardiff Research Festival, for material to go into the project's final report.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
 
Description Reflections Workshop at The National Archives, Kew 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Attended and chaired a panel for the Reflections Workshop at The National Archives, Kew, 12 October 2018.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Reflections on the Centenary Reflective Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Reflective workshop on Centenary commemorative activities, organised by Reflections on the Centnenary First World War: Learning and Legacies for the Future with the support of the AHRC Gateways to the First World war Public Engagement Centre at the University of Kent. Participants included individuals and groups working on FWW related projects. The day included two focus groups which will feed into the Reflections on the First World war project and presentations from two HLF funded projects ( Screen South and King's Theatre Portsmouth)
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://reflections1418.exeter.ac.uk/news/
 
Description Reflections on the Centenary Workshop and Focus Groups, 13 September 2017 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Reflections on the Centenary Workshop and Focus Groups, 13 September 2017, University of Kent. This was the project's first event to host focus group research with community based projects supported by various FWW Engagement Centres. The programme of papers which preceeded the focus groups sparked a good deal of discussion and debate, and case studies were identified to be interviewed by the project in further detail.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://reflections1418.exeter.ac.uk/news/
 
Description Talk for 'Globalising and Localising the Great War' Seminar Series, University of Oxford 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact James Wallis gave an hour-long seminar in April 2018, titled 'A Space of Conflict? Commemorating the First World War at London's Imperial War Museum'.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description The War Comes Home Workshop, University of Essex, 12th January 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact 'The War Comes Home' workshop was organised by two sociologists from the University of Essex. A small group of academics researching the First World War were invited to attend, primarily as discussants. It provided an opportunity to speak with Community Partners from research projects co-ordinated by one of the five AHRC First World War Public Engagement Centres.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018