The Worcestershire World War One Hundred programme received the largest Heritage Lottery Fund grant for a World War One commemoration outside London, to tell the stories of Worcestershire people, their involvement with and personal legacy from the war. Throughout this time people from across the county have been invited to share their family stories about the contribution the county and its people made to the First World War and it is these contributions which will be on show in The People’s Collection.

The Worcestershire World War One Hundred programme received the largest Heritage Lottery Fund grant for a World War One commemoration outside London, to tell the stories of Worcestershire people, their involvement with and personal legacy from the war. Throughout this time people from across the county have been invited to share their family stories about the contribution the county and its people made to the First World War and it is these contributions which will be on show in The People’s Collection.

The touring exhibition will visit Bromsgrove Library, Redditch Library, Malvern Library, Bewdley Museum, Number 8 and The Almonry Heritage Centre before coming together at The Hive in Worcester. Each exhibition will feature stories relevant to that specific location as well as information relevant to the county as a whole.

Visitors to the Redditch exhibition will learn about the Royal Enfield motorcycles used at the front and the military tribunals will reveal the lives of conscripted men.

In Malvern learn about the trench shovel belonging to the Purser Family of Welland and the life of local naval officer G H Lane.

In Bewdley, with help from the Bewdley Historical Society, learn about people from the Wyre Forest and uncover the mystery of a WW1 army issue spoon found in a back garden in Kidderminster, and the three members of the Tarrant family who served in the army, navy and munitions.

At the Number 8 Gallery in Pershore learn about the Sladden family of Badsey and the Belgian refugees who found sanctuary in the area.

The Almonry Heritage Centre features Voluntary Aid Detachments hospitals including Evesham Abbey and the role of German Prisoners of War in the surrounding farms.

Gillian Roberts, Worcestershire World War One Hundred Project Officer said: “The people of Worcestershire have been hugely generous in sharing their family stories with us and we have created a fantastic record of the impact World War One had on our County from what was happening at the Front to developments back home in medicine all with personal insight.

“The story is however not complete. We are still researching and would like to expand our collections to get the fullest understanding possible of the role of Worcestershire in the story of the Great War and we will continue to welcome contributions from people across the county.”