Researching Staffordshire’s Great War Memorials – FREE on-line publication
A new guide produced by Staffordshire County Council’s Archives Service is helping local communities discover more about their WWI war memorials.
The free 92-page guide has been put together as part of the county’s plans to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the start of the Great War and can be downloaded here:
Researching Staffordshire’s War Memorials (7MB).
The guide explains how local communities can go about researching their own local memorials and takes readers through the history of the county’s memorials leading up to the Great War, and those erected in honour of those who lost their lives.
Featuring 114 memorials from 72 locations across the historic County, the guide also includes details of the famous Shot at Dawn memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, unveiled in 2001 to commemorate 307 men executed by firing squad during the Great War, including men from the Staffordshire Regiments, such as Private Denis J. Blakemore of the North Staffs.
The guide also includes details of the commemoration of War Poet T.E. Hulme of Endon and Lance Corporal William Coltman, the highest decorated non-commissioned officer (and non-combatant stretcher-bearer) of the Great War, as well as the less well known neighbourhood memorial in Burslem, which commemorates the men of two adjacent roads.
Cllr Mike Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Children, Community and Localism with Staffordshire County Council said: “This is a particularly special year as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War and honour the huge sacrifices that were made by millions of people. We want to involve our local communities in our commemorations over the next four years and want to help them understand more about the war and the memorials in their local towns and villages. If you have ever wanted to research your own local WWI memorial or learn more about Staffordshire’s memorials then this free guide is just what you’ll need.
Mike added: “Staffordshire has as good a claim as anywhere in the country to be the national focus for the commemoration of World War I, and we have many wonderful sites, monuments and memorials that offer poignant reminders of the Great War.”
Aysha Afridi, head of heritage and learning at the National Memorial Arboretum said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local people and visitors to the county to learn more about the inspirational WWI memorials we have in Staffordshire. The Shot at Dawn memorial is unique, and a real focal point for visitors when they come here. We are delighted that it and other memorials across the county have been brought together in the new guide, and we hope visitors to Staffordshire will take the opportunity to come to the Arboretum to see even more of our WWI memorials”