Welcome to the Diverse Narratives of WWI website! This project is what you make of it, and we hope you explore the site and add your memories, stories, artefacts, and experiences of minority groups in Cheshire during the First World War. By “minority,” we simply mean anyone who does not fit the traditional stories or narratives, whether this means via ethnic, national, religious, ideological, or a number of other differences. If you have a question about the project, or how to contribute, do not hesitate to get in touch: we want to hear from you!
Part of the Gateways to the First World War network, as well as the Hidden Histories WWI network, Diverse Narratives is a project designed to engage the people of Cheshire in researching and writing the history of the Great War, and we will be having several public events to help make this a dynamic and exciting process. This website will be a meeting place for those who are interested in the project, and a place to contribute and share memories, stories, artefacts, and experiences to build a comprehensive picture of what life in Cheshire was like during the First World War. The website will also be a place to learn about coming events in your communities to showcase the work being done for the project, and we hope to see you at them. If you, or someone you know, has knowledge of the experiences of minority groups in Cheshire during the war, please contact us.
Diverse Narratives is hosted by the Department of History & Archaeology at the University of Chester. The department has a long tradition of excellence in Military History and close ties with several local heritage organizations, who are crucial participants in this project.
If you would like to get involved, in no matter how small a role, please contact our Senior Researcher, Dr Nicola Morris, via email at nicolamorris [at] chester.ac.uk, via Twitter at @CheshireWWI, or via post at Dr N. Morris, Department of History & Archaeology, Binks Building, The University of Chester, Parkgate Road, CH1 4BJ.
Together, we can discover the diverse and rich history of Cheshire, while creating a lasting mosaic of narratives detailing unique characters, moments, and groups in the region, from 1914-1918.
The Diverse Narratives project is thriving because of our contributors, but we would love to uncover even more hidden histories of Cheshire in the First World War, and we need your help to make this happen!
Do you have a relative who lived in Cheshire during the war? Do you know of an interesting story from the era that relates to how minority groups lived and worked in the region? Do you just have an interest in local history and want to dig deep to find something that’s never been looked at before? If so, please get in touch!
We’ve uncovered some great topics and themes in the project so far, and would love to hear more from you about what we should cover. If you’re interested in researching Allied soldiers in military hospitals in Cheshire, we can direct you to some great archives and resources. If you want to know how diverse the Cheshire Regiment was, we’ve got a great lead thanks to the Jewish Military Museum, and can get you started via that. What about Indian soldiers? Factory workers from China? German business owners? There is a rich cultural history in Cheshire during the First World War that we’ve only begun to scratch the surface of. Get in touch to have a chat about what interests you and how we can help uncover these stories!
Please contact our Senior Researcher, Dr. Jessica van Horssen, via email at j.vanhorssen [at] chester.ac.uk, via Twitter at@Historiamagoria, or via post at Dr. J. van Horssen, Department of History & Archaeology, Binks Building, The University of Chester, Parkgate Road, CH1 4BJ.
Do you or your organisation have plans to commemorate the centenary of the First World War? There are funding opportunities available to you!
Some examples of these include:
* The Heritage Lottery Fund: First World War Then and Now Fund for community projects that aim to commemorate the centenary of the Great War. Grants between £3,000-10,000
* Cheshire East Council Fund: First World War Commemoration Events for events that directly link to the commemoration of the First World War, which involve the wider community, such as street parties, fetes, etc. Grants up to £1,000.
Diverse Narrative is supported by:
