Re-telling untold stories

Unveiling our resources at Highbury Hall

Untold stories learning resource, about Birmingham's wounded soldiers from World War One, was formally launched on Tuesday 13th sept at Highbury Hall - one of the many military hospitals explored as part of the project.

Learning resource to be launched

Untold stories - Birmingham's wounded soldiers from WW1 learning resource to be launched this Tuesday, 13th September 6:30pm at Highbury Hall, one of more than military hospitals, local schools used as hospitals and auxiliary hospitals used in Birmingham during world war one.

Filming Untold Stories

So here I’m sat at my desk, looking through scores of photos and hours of footage, wondering how I’m going to pull so much fantastic stuff together.  My job, you see, is to turn all of the lectures, interviews, workshops and explorations we have undertaken through our ‘Untold Stories’ project into a finished film for our launch on 13^th September.

Untold stories – sites of treatment

Great Hall, University of Birmingham

In late 1914 plans were made to establish auxiliary hospitals in large private houses across Birmingham, predominantly in the south of the city. While we found out a lot about some sites in the city that were used as hospitals during the First World War (i.e. the University of Birmingham, Highbury Hall in Moseley), others were initially more mysterious.

Mapping untold stories of World War 1

Indian Army wounded dressed in 

‘Convalescent Blue’ 

outfit in the Dome, Brighton

When what you're looking at is too huge to understand, you reach for a map.  Body density maps of World War One is one way to attempt to 'picture' where death happened (see over the top).  You might begin to visualise impact of those deaths by mapping the streets they left behind. But what about the casualties from physical wounds, illness, and emotional trauma?

We know there were many more than those who died, but have no fixed number.  Their injuries and return from fighting is well documented, but how can we even begin to understand the immensity of change in the lives of people living in, or patients staying in Birmingham?

Over the top

Touring to schools from October to December 2016

Summer 1916. 141 days of horror begin as the Battle of the Somme becomes one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history. In a crowded hospital near the front line a nurse scrubs the floor in the relentless war against infection and disease, but not all the wounds of war can be treated in this manner.

“It’s not the missing limbs that haunts you.
Its what’s missing behind the eyes, inside.”

Working hard 100 years on

Graduates leaving the ceremony

Last week I was invited by Baron Bilimoria of Chelsea, in full ceremonial dress as chancellor of the University of Birmingham to sit back in the Great Hall of the University of Birmingham and appreciate the history of just that one room - the events and celebrations that have happened there.