THE First World War Centenary Partnership is delivering a global programme of events and activities inspiring young and old to connect with the lives, stories and impact of the First World War. As part of this, The Army Children Archive highlights the plight of Army children using two online galleries via Flickr.
During World War I, an enormous number of British children became “temporary” Army children when their civilian fathers joined up as volunteers or conscripts.
A significant proportion of British families today will count such children among their ancestors, but may not appreciate how having a soldier–father affected their lives psychologically as well as practically.
“The Army Children of the First World War: Faces and Families” is a set of photographic portraits of Army children and their families photographed between 1914 and 1918.
Ten images have initially been posted and more will be added weekly – http://bit.ly/ACFWWFaces. You are invited to fill any information gaps and, if possible, to identify these forgotten faces.
The second gallery, The Army Children of the First World War: a Sentimental View, displays a selection of sentimental postcards featuring children. Many of these images were intended to tug at the heartstrings or arouse patriotic feelings – http://bit.ly/ACFWWSentimental
You can learn more at www.archhistory.co.uk and regular updates on the progress of the project will be posted on the “TACA drum” blog www.tacadrum.blogspot.co.uk