Students remember the fallen of World War I

This Sunday, 11 November is Remembrance Sunday, as the nation remembers those who had fallen in the two World Wars and later conflicts. At 11.00am a two minute silence will be observed at war memorials, cenotaphs, religious services and shopping centres throughout the country. The royal family, along with leading politicians and religious leaders gather at The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London for a service and all branches of the civilian and military services are represented in ceremonies throughout Britain and the Commonwealth.

Students at the University of Teesside have completed timely research which coincides with Remembrance Sunday. They have undertaken a module entitled War and Memory, with particular reference to the remembrance and commemoration of World War I, as part of the MA History. They looked at the question of community and identity in the context of war memories in the region.

The following are all University of Teesside MA History students. Their research explored:

• The changing attitudes to those who were condemned and often shot, as deserters or ‘cowards’ during World War I. Susan Stephenson found that these men were now being seen more as victims of the war and she gave a research paper on this subject at a History conference.
• Hartlepool’s war memorials. Michael Duffey examined Hartlepool’s war memorials and showed how these have illustrated the town’s relationship to the UK’s military past.
• How communities set about commemorating their fallen sons. Denise Coss and Brian Ward researched extensively in local archives to examine this subject.

Geoff Watkins, module leader, said: “I knew when I was devising this module that the ideas behind commemoration were fascinating and important, but even I have been surprised by the phenomenal response. I don’t think I have ever taught anything where students became so passionate about what they were doing.”

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