Detachments have been researching local soldiers as part of the ‘Local Heroes’
project. Exploring their lives, their war,
and the effect on the home front. It’s amazing how much can be gathered from initially scant information. Following success at county level, Heaton Manor
and Kingston Park competed regionally, with Kingston Park
winning the overall competition, with an excellent presentation about Sgt John Patrick Milburn. With runners up Heaton Manor close on their heels with their thought provoking
research on Private John Thomas Leece.
There will be further county, regional and national competitions in 2015 through to 2018. Interested in taking part?
Check out your local war memorial, pick a name and start
your research. Or do you have a relative that served?
Great starting points are the websites of the North East
War Memorials Project (www.newmp.org.uk) and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org.uk).
Look for further advice at the National Army Museum
(www.nam.ac.uk), the Imperial War Museum
(www.iwm.org.uk) , the National Archives
(www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war) or visit you
local library or archives.
Tyne side Scottish 100
The project aims to chronicle the
Tyneside Scottish ‘Pals’ battalions
from the call to arms’, through
military training, to life in the
trenches and to the Battle of the
Somme, where they suffered heavy
casualties. In conjunction with the
Tyneside Scottish Association, local
schools, churches and the wider
community, it will leaving a lasting
legacy to their sacrifice.
Follow the journey on
Facebook by ‘liking’ their
page at www.facebook.com/
NACFTS100.
The project is supported by the
National Lottery through the
Heritage Lottery Fund,
see www.hlf.org.uk
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