Thousands of people who were involved in the Battle of the Somme will be personally remembered in a new UK Government project, as part of the national Somme commemorations on 1 July. The stories and sacrifices of the men and women who played their part in the Battle of the Somme will be remembered on…
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We have received an enquiry about the action of the 2nd Battalion South Stafford Regiment outside of Zonnebeke Nov 1914. There were 20 local men involved who should be remembered but there are conflicts between accounts in diaries, Regimental History, and Regimental Casualty List 1920, and the Regimental Museum does not have the Battalion Roll for…
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Tolkien’s ‘Immortal Four’ meet for the last time An article by John Garth, inspired by a visitors’ book in Lichfield, has won the Best Article, Tolkien Society Awards 2016. One hundred years ago today, four young men convened in an English town, not having seen each other for some time. What makes this trivial event…
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Memorial Ground is a new piece of choral music by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang, composed to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme. It is a piece that singing groups of all sizes and abilities can customise to make their own. Any choir or group can join in – click here for…
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Historic England: The Conservation, Repair and Management of War Memorials This guidance is intended for anyone interested in or responsible for the care of war memorials. This might include parish, local and district councils, conservation professionals, contractors, statutory bodies, volunteer groups or private owners. Although the guidance covers the setting of war memorials, more detailed…
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Interested in the history of the WW1 Military Camps on Cannock Chase? We are looking for volunteers to take part in a 6 month research project to help us find out more about the people who built, serviced & trained on the camps. Come to our recruitment session on the 19th March or contact us to find out…
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J.R.R Tolkien in Staffordshire 1915 – 1918 touring exhibition Launches March 2016 An exciting touring exhibition, organised by The Haywood Society, supported by the Staffordshire Libraries and Arts Service and the Museum of Cannock Chase and funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund is opening at the Museum on March 7th. The exhibition focuses on the…
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“This next year, the big effort must be ours” – Sir John Charteris, 1st January 1916 Although the events which followed this quote, led to human tragedy, the message from Sir John Charteris is quite a poignant one. This next year Civic Voice need, more than ever, volunteers to get engaged with the First World War Memorials…
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William Harold Coltman, was born and brought up in Burton on Trent, and this presentation tells the story of his life. William agreed to go to war, but refused to fight. As a Christian he said he would not take life but go to help save lives. So he enrolled as a stretcher bearer. As…
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The Haywood Society, based in the Parish of Colwich, Stafford Borough, has received £9,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a project ‘J. R. R. Tolkien in Staffordshire, 1915-18’. Awarded through HLF’s ‘First World War: then and now’ programme, the project will focus on creating a touring Exhibition celebrating the importance of Staffordshire in…
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