The National Archives’ First World War portal provides online access to UK government records about the conflict, including a vast collection of letters, diaries, maps and photographs.
The portal – First World War 100 – also provides a podcast series – Voices of the Armistice – which aims to “bring to life individual experiences of those who served in the First World War”.
The portal will be updated over the Centenary years between 2014-2019 as The National Archives undertakes “major” digitisation projects of First World War records.
Other records, including unit diaries, medal cards, service records and prisoner of war interviews, will also be made available.
The My Tommy’s War blog series, which takes a personal approach to providing practical advice to family historians researching their First World War ancestors, will continue throughout the programme, along with other blogs, podcasts and video content.
A video conference learning resource – All Pals Together – has been created for schools.
Aimed at schools, which will be able to book hour-long sessions, students will “meet” a soldier from a Pals Battalion, Private Henry Fairhurst, played by a costumed actor, as he answers questions and talks about why he joined the Army and his experience of the trenches.
To visit the First World War 100 portal, click here.
Images courtesy of the National Archives
Posted by: Daniel Barry, Centenary News