Published Thursday 11 November 2021 at 11:55
In the latest episode of Tales from the Collection, Remembrance Day is in mind as we uncover stories from WWI.
The latest YouTube video from Blackburn Library and Blackburn Museum takes a look at some rare finds that have been made in our collection.
These items allow us to better understand what British Prisoners of War went through in captivity during WWI.
This is an often overlooked topic but these documents show what happened to these men, and how the work of the Blackburn Prisoners of War Help Committee – administered by Hilda Dugdale and Anna Spencer – helped to keep these men alive.
Among the many thank you letters from the men, we were astonished to find ones detailing stories that included a murder, an escape and the amorous activities of British soldiers held in captivity.
Special thanks must go to Philip Crompton, volunteer in the Library’s Community History department, for all of his hard work researching this story.
Tomorrow a second video will be published on the War Memorial for Greenfield Mill, Darwen. Make sure you click on the subscribe button on our channel to never miss a new episode.
In tomorrow’s episode we share the stories of some of those who came home from WWI. In particular we are looking at the impact of disability resulting from war wounds.
We will be joined by Scott, who has researched the consequences for his grandfather’s family after he was badly wounded at Passchendaele in 1917. How has the impact of that injury affected subsequent generations?
More episodes are already available on the channel, for example some WWII stories for you to watch:
Home Front WW2 – The Fire Watcher – YouTube
WW2 Home Front – The Plasfort Helmet: a sign of desperate times – YouTube
For details of our collections and learning sessions for schools: blackburnmuseum.org.uk