Gateways to the First World War – Sound Architect Creative Media

World Wars Day Speaker

We’re excited to tell you about our amazing first speaker: Dr Chris Kempshall, and his talk about East Sussex and the end of the First World War.

At 11am on 11 November 1918, the fighting stopped on the Western Front. The First World War had, after over four years of warfare, drawn to an end. Social pressures within Britain in the final years of the war were visible in the towns of East Sussex as food shortages and economic damage threatened to bring the country to its knees. In France and Belgium, British soldiers fighting alongside their allies were also brought to the brink of defeat before achieving a military victory that could scarcely be believed. When news of the armistice broke it was spread by mayors, town criers, and newspapers throughout East Sussex. How was this news received throughout the county? What was to come next? This talk by Dr Chris Kempshall will explore the lead-up to the final day of the conflict and examine both how and why the war ended when it did.

Dr Chris Kempshall is a Teaching Fellow in European History at the University of Sussex where he specialises in the First World War. He has also taught on war, conflict, and European history at the universities of Brighton, Kent, and Goldsmiths College, London.

World Wars Day at Newhaven Fort

We’re excited to announce our next event with amazing speakers and best of all – it’s FREE!

Here is the official press release:

World Wars Day at Newhaven Fort

Local charity Sound Architect Creative Media are holding a ‘World Wars Day’ at Newhaven Fort as part of their projects on the First and Second World Wars, thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. “We have been running a number of projects over the commemoration of the Centenary of the First World War” says Susanne Crosby from Sound Architect, “we’re hoping that this free open day will encourage anyone who is interested to come along.”

These projects with children and young people have taken place all over East Sussex, from rural schools on the border of Royal Tunbridge Wells to students from St Catherine’s College in Eastbourne and have been over a wide range of subject matters in the First World War including life on the Home Front, Animals, and ‘The Day Sussex Died’. The current project about the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry spans both conflicts, and there is research being undertaken in Sussex and in Scotland on women who were part of this unique volunteer service which of course still exists today.

“We are excited to have two really engaging and excellent speakers: Chris Kempshall is an expert on the First World War and he’s spoken all over, plus Juliette Pattinson who has just finished major research on the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry” says Susanne. “Plus we will have a preview of our new film on our last project: ‘Crime and Punishment’ and lots of free materials for people.”

The organisers hope that this will encourage people to come along and share what they know, as well as learn more. Susanne says “I really hope that anyone with a family connection to either conflict comes along to share their stories. The centenary of the First World War may be over, and they all should continue to be remembered with honour and respect. This year is of course the 80^th anniversary of the start of the Second World War, and we need to keep learning from our nation’s scars, and making sure that the young people growing up learn about it all too.”

World Wars Day is at Newhaven Fort on Friday 26^th April between 1.00 and 4.00.

More information – including the times of the speakers – available very soon!

Sound Architect Guest Speaker at First World War event

NOT FAR FROM THE FRONT – DISCOVERING THE FIRST WORLD WAR IN THE SOUTH EAST

10.00am – 4.00pm, 26th May 2017. Hastings Museum

Susanne Crosby, a Project Manager with Sound Architect Creative Media is speaking at a First World War information event organised by Gateways to the First World War and The Centre for Hidden Histories in collaboration with the Heritage Lottery Fund South East team at Hastings Museum on 26th May.

The event runs between 10am and 4pm and is free to all, although booking is essential.

Programme:

10am Registration, tea and coffee.

10:30 Welcome from Catherine Harvey (Hastings Museum) and Dr Lucy Noakes (Gateways to the FWW)

10:40 Professor Mark Connelly (University of Kent) and community volunteers on the ‘Battlefields Revisited’ project.

11:00 Dr Chris Kempshall (East Sussex County Council and Goldsmiths, University of London) on The impact of the First World War on the South East.

11:20 Susanne Crosby (Sound Architect Creative Media) on two HLF funded projects ‘The Day Sussex Died’ and ‘Twelve and Sixpence’.

11:40 Catherine Harvey (Hastings Museum) on the ‘Hastings Remembers’ project.

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Mike Noble (Hidden Histories) on the ‘Hidden Heroes of Empire’ project.

13:20 Liz Robertson (First World War Centenary Partnership).

13:40 Sarah Wicks (HLF South East) on The First World War: Then and Now Grant.

14:00 Round table discussions regarding project development and FWW project ideas.

16:00 Close

If you are interested in doing something to commemorate the centenary of the First World War in the South East of England and have thought of applying to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s First World War: Then and Now grant programme and need help shaping a project, then this information event is for you. There will be an opportunity to discuss project ideas with engagement centre colleagues, HLF development staff and other community partners in the afternoon.

Gateways to the First World War and Hidden Histories are two of five First World War Engagement Centre centres based in universities across the UK. They welcome enquiries from individuals or groups wherever they are located and are especially keen to reach out across the South East for this event. They can connect you with university researchers, recommend archives and resources, advise on documenting and sharing your project and direct you to relevant training. Each centre has areas of particular expertise You can find out more on the First World War Engagement Centres website.

How to book a place at this event:

To attend the session please sign up via the Eventbrite page.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/not-far-from-the-front-discovering-the-first-world-war-in-the-south-east-tickets-34273805876