60 Duke Street
Liverpool L1 5AA
T 0151 707 4319
E
info@civicvoice.org.uk
civicvoice.org.uk
Civic Society WW I Commemoration Project Examples
Addingham Civic Society (Yorkshire and The Humber)
A village group involving members of the Civic Society has come together to organise events and
activities to commemorate the Great War.
A First World War Centenary Commemoration service at St Peter’s Church, Addingham, offered an
opportunity to remember, reflect and give thanks for all those who served in the ]armed forces. A
special screening of the film ‘The Trench’ which portrays a group of young British soldiers on the eve
of the Battle of the Somme was shown in the Memorial Hall, with all proceeds going towards the
publication of a village WW1 book
Ainsdale Civic Society (North West)
Huge community effort resulted in the restoration of Ainsdale’s war memorial. Taking on the task to
restore the memorial, Ainsdale Civic Society members set up a war memorial restoration fund to help
cover the project costs – donating several thousands of pounds themselves. The project was
completed in three stages and lasted over two years.
Chelmsford Remembers project (East of England)
Chelmsford Civic Society was awarded a grant of £10,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to deliver
their World War One project to preserve the heritage and memories of Chelmsford in the First World
War. Activities include the production of publication and resource documents on Chelmsford and the
First World War; supporting local young people to develop skills to help them research the history of
the war; supporting volunteers to learn new skills in heritage and oral history research; development
of a teaching resource pack to share with local schools and colleges; and a launch event and
exhibitions to showcase the project.
Hale Civic Society - Operation Kings Shilling. (North West)
Operation Kings Shilling will cover many topics to add to 'then and now' learning and preserve Hale's
heritage as part of the national commemorations of the First World War.
One of the first projects as part of Operation Kings Shilling is entitled 'Stories from the Soldier' which
will connect the three different Hale war memorials.
Horncastle Civic Society (East Midlands)
To ensure that the start of the 1914-18 Great War is commemorated in Horncastle a new group has
come together under the auspices of the Civic Society. The committee includes representatives of
U3A, the Family History Group, the Royal British Legion, the Lions, Sir Joseph Banks Society and St
Mary’s Church and others. An event, focussed on the local social impact of the war, will take place
over the weekend of 13-14th September 2014 in the Stanhope Hall. This was previously the Town’s
Drill Hall, where Territorial Army volunteers trained and which was used during the conflict as a Red
Cross hospital. Ideas include a display of WW l memorabilia, newspapers, weapons, vehicles, and
even a short length of trench and a hospital scenario.
60 Duke Street
Liverpool L1 5AA
T 0151 707 4319
E
info@civicvoice.org.uk
civicvoice.org.uk
Hornsea Civic Society (Yorkshire and The Humber)
From 2014 to 2018, Hornsea Civic Society will be marking the centenary with a series of newsletter
articles to commemorate the events and how the war impacted on residents of Hornsea and the
surrounding area.
Lytham St. Annes Civic Society (North West)
Lytham St Annes Civic Society provided a Blue Plaque to mark the centenary of ‘E’ company, the
Lytham Territorials 4th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, being deployed for active service
in World War l on August 6th 1914. The Plaque was unveiled on 6 th August 2014 on the Homestead
in Henry Street, which is where the Drill Hall, home of ‘E’ Company, once stood.
Margate Civic Society (South East)
The Society republished ‘Wings over Westgate’ as part of the Centennial commemorations. The
original was published in 1985 by Geoffrey Williams, who had served in the Fleet Air Arm. His
memories, combined with excellent local history knowledge, produced a balanced mix of factual
records and local anecdotes. A further mini project is to refurbish the war memorial plaque at St
Mildred’s Bay.highlighting not only those who lost their lives but also the, sometimes forgotten,
survivors.
Newtown Area History and Heritage Group (West Midlands)
The group, which is based near Wem, Shropshire, is finding out as much information as it can about
the men who are named on two memorials in the village. Members also want to try to track down any
surviving relatives who may still be living in the surrounding area. The information gathered will
initially form part of a Wem Civic Society display which will be used as part of the wider World War I
commemorative events being held in the town during the summer. There are plans to produce a more
detailed local display and a booklet for local interest and reference and to link up with the Shropshirewide World War I project
Stone Historical and Civic Society (West Midlands)
The Society is working on a series of books on those killed in the war, the battles they fought in and
where they are buried, if they have a known grave.
The Society has also launched an appeal to buy a plaque for display in Stone recording the century
and the appreciation of the town’s people of today for all that the former residents did during the First
World War.
St Ives Civic Society (South West)
The Society has started work on a Book of Remembrance to commemorate the start of the First
World War.