Turning back time to wartime Middlesbrough

As dramas such as BBC’s Peaky Blinders and The Village offer a grim glimpse of life following the First World War, student researchers from Teesside University have been discovering what life was like for people living in wartime Middlesbrough.

Teesside University BA (Hons) History graduates Ami Becker, Rob May and current student Matthew Jones pored over a vast range of archive material, from personal letters to council minutes and other historical documents from the early 1900s.

Ami and Rob, who graduate this year with First Class degrees, carried out their research at Middlesbrough’s Teesside Archives and National Trust property Ormesby Hall, alongside current student Matthew, who is completing the final year of his degree.

Each looked at specific issues affecting the town and how people coped with the personal tragedy and economic upheaval caused by the war.

Ami, 21, of Middlesbrough, examined how families dealt with grief and how those lost in war were remembered. She said: 'War memorials were so important, as they presented a blank canvas upon which people could project their own stories and emotions, presenting both a civic and personal representation of memorial.

'The men who went to fight in France were not professional soldiers, they were ordinary men being sent to war, many of them never to return. Along with the emotional turmoil, many families were left struggling and facing financial worries.'

Ami said a fund was set up to help families, adding: 'Mary Pennyman was a really inspirational and supportive woman who lived at Ormesby Hall. She was secretary of the KOSB 2nd Battalion and wrote to those who had lost someone to ensure they were comfortable financially, making them aware of the pensions available to them.

'It was really poignant reading some of the handwritten letters sent to her from women who had lost husbands, brothers or fathers in the war.'

Rob, 34, of Normanby, looked at employment and the prominent role the region had in providing a third of the nation’s steel, with women also contributing significantly to the war effort. He also researched how the war affected crime and food supplies.

He said: 'Many women moved from other spheres into essential war work. Local munitions factories all employed local girls while Haverton Hill shipyard used women as labourers. There was also a rise in self-sufficiency with an increase in the use of allotments.

'Among the many interesting facts I found was how the Defence of the Realm Act required permits for homing pigeons and a Middlesbrough man was one of the first people to be prosecuted.'

Matthew, 36, of Whitby, looked at how sports groups were involved in the war effort. He said: 'It was really interesting to look at so many handwritten documents and I came across lots of fascinating information, such as a local air rifle club which put out an appeal for anyone who could help instruct people to shoot a rifle.

'It was also interesting that many professional footballers from that time went to war and also how women in the munitions factory set up their own football league, taking over a more traditional role not only in the workplace, but in leisure activities too.'

Matthew, who returned to education after his family relocated to Whitby from The Potteries, is considering a career in teaching. He said: 'I’ve really enjoyed seeing how I’ve developed since starting the degree. A really positive aspect of doing this degree is that it provides a gateway to so many different careers.'

Rob, who is currently completing a master’s at Teesside, is originally from the West Country. He said: 'I’d heard about the University’s reputation and when I came here I found the lecturers to be so supportive. There was such a diverse range of people on the course and the whole experience was so positive. I’m aiming to continue in academia either through study or teaching.'

Ami added: 'There are so many transferable skills gained from completing the degree and it’s really developed our critical thinking and analytical skills.'

Margaret Hems, Head of History at Teesside University’s School of Arts & Media, said: 'This project, originally developed as part of the BBC World War One at Home Tour, offers insight into what life was like in Middlesbrough around the time of the First World War.

'Dr Roisin Higgins, who mentored the students and is one of the foremost scholars in the field of public memory and civic ritual, will be supporting the researchers to share their findings with the wider community through a series of radio broadcasts.

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