Australian Airman, born and buried in Birmingham

Our research of World War One Soldiers at Lodge Hill Cemetery has uncovered many stories from across the world. Harry Taylor was born in Birmingham, but traveled to Australia when he was young.  He served throughout World War One and died in England just before the war ended.

Fighting under a false name

2nd Battalion in Plymouth

Private George Thornley of the 2nd Battalion (Regular Army) Royal Scots fought in World War one in France dying of wounds on 5th December 1914, having made it back to Birmingham for medical treatment. What is unclear is why on the World War One Memorial Wall, Lodge Hill Cemetery, it says he served under the name George Vaughan.

Death in Service - Birmingham Nurse dies of Influenza

90,000 volunteers worked at home and abroad in World War One.

When you have your flu jab this winter consider the effects of the flu one hundred years ago.

Katherine Old writes:

Bertha Larner served as a nurse in world war one from 29th June 1918 until her death on 28th October 1918. Bertha died of influenza during the most serious epidemic of any disease in history.

What can little ones do in War time?

It is rare to hear the voice of children in any century.  The Birmingham Weekly Mercury's children's competition in 1915 on the theme 'What can the Little Ones do in War Time?', offers an insight to life in Birmingham during the war through children's eyes.  First prize of half a crown was awarded to Irene Harrison (age 13) from 145 Ladypool Road, Sparkbrook, one of six children from a widowed mother.

Discovering Birmingham's fight for the vote

Local Historian Don leads the trail

Katherine Old writes: 
The Balsall Heath History Society led a historic walking tour around Birmingham City Centre exploring the city’s links to the suffrage movements of the chartists, suffragettes and suffragists throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Birmingham's King Tom, Suffragettes and our Right to Vote

Touching history - Thomas Atwood, Leader of
Birmingham Political Union, the most effective political
organisation exerting pressure for parliamentary reform.

On Saturday 15 September, 3pm – 4.30pm PHC will be leading a heritage walk from Victoria Square to discover Birmingham's heritage in the fight for our rights to vote.

Birmingham's Royal Street Parties

It's being reported on Radio 4 this morning that there are only a few official royal street parties in the UK, live from Handsworth, Birmingham - a story also recently reported in local news.

Party for King George V & Queen Mary’s Silver Jubilee 1935.

Outside of 43 Winson Street – opposite the Bellefield Pub

Does this mean there are few street parties and has this always been the case?  In Handsworth, the answer is an emphatic no.

Commonwealth Heads pay tribute to the Unremembered

Our Unremembered wreath has been presented to the Foreign Secretary and Commonwealth Foreign Ministers at a lunchtime reception as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting along with nearly 100 others made by community groups across the UK.

Foreign Secretary with members of the Big Ideas team
Photo courtesy of CHOGM 2018.

The many delegates and diplomats included the International Minister for the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, the Minister of National Security for Bermuda and the High Commissioner of Barbados.

Birmingham's child emigrants revisited

Annual Report Middlemore Homes
 showing ‘before and after’ photos

The Balsall Heath Local History Society has received £32,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project concerning the Children’s Emigration Homes. These were founded by John Middlemore in Highgate in 1873 and are an important aspect of Birmingham’s heritage.

My time with PHC

Since September, I’ve been working with People’s Heritage Co-op for my placement on the Professional Skills module on my history course at the University of Birmingham. Now that my placement is over, it has made me reflect on everything I have done over the past seven months, and the progress that I’ve made in that time. When I chose this placement, I did so as it seemed like an opportunity to do something unlike any previous work experience I had taken, but I did not realise just how varied my work would be or how rewarding I would find it.

Making Birmingham Votes Count

Debating Representation in Council Chambers
6th February 2018

Following our Rally celebrating 100 years since the signing of 'The Representation of the People Act', People's Heritage Co-operative are working with Birmingham City Council Wellbeing Service seeking funding for a range of activities throughout 2018 and into 2019.

Celebrating Suffrage

200,000 demonstrate their support for suffrage in Birmingham
in 1832, leading to further campaigning for Universal Suffrage 

The Representation of the People Act was signed on 6th February 1918, giving the right to vote to most men and, for the first time, some women. Birmingham played a key role in the UK history of suffrage and we'll be celebrating on 6th February 2018 between 11 and 2pm outside Birmingham Council House.

If you can't join us please take part in our quick survey.

Past, Present, Future: Women Shaping History

Dominant perception: Suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst
arrested for militancy

On 13^th January I was fortunate enough to attend the Fabian Society New Year conference in London. In light of the recent prominence of campaigns such as Me Too and Time’s Up, as well as the Westminster sexual harassment scandal, gender inequality was a major theme throughout the conference, beginning with the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s inspiring keynote speech on female empowerment and the discrimination and adversity which women continue to face.