The two-year Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) funding for the Farnhill WW1 Volunteers Project concluded at the end of December 2018.

In the past two years, members of the project have achieved far more than any of us thought we would (or even could).  A full report on our activities during that period has been prepared for the HLF.  The research, events, website, and the permanent archive indicate that our time (and Lottery funds) have been well spent.

The end of funding does not mean the end of the project.  There are a number of research strands that will continue:

• When the 1921 census data is released it will extend our knowledge of these men’s post-war lives – perhaps including those men who left the village in the immediate aftermath of the war and have proved difficult to trace.
• The WW1 Pension Index cards, held by the Western Front Association, are currently being digitised and will be interesting to examine in due course.  Additional WW1 records may also become available in the future.
• We anticipate finding out more about the men’s post-war lives from local newspapers of the 1920s, which will be examined as part of the History Group’s ongoing “100 years ago” project.  The long and acrimonious post-war campaign to provide allotments for WW1 veterans might be an interesting topic to research, for example.
• Finally, we contine to hope that families of the Volunteers might come across this website and contact the project with additional information.

A start has been made uploading family trees for the Farnhill WW1 Volunteers, with the rest to follow in the next few days.

These are not only interesting for their own sakes, but they also show the way in which the WW1 Volunteers were connected – often with deep family ties, reflecting a tightly-knit village community.

See the Volunteer family trees page.

During the course of our project the Farnhill Methodist Chapel WW1 Roll of Honour, previous thought to be lost, was given to us.  We set about raising funds for the conservation and digital restoration of the Roll which, after 100 years, was in clear need of professional attention.

You can read an article describing the conservation and restoration process.

A slideshow showing the process is also available.

Two years of research has enabled us to produce biographies for all 68 men whose names appeared on the 1916 Farnhill Parish Council Roll of Honour.

Today these are published on the Biographies & photographs page.

Below, just a few of the photographs taken during our “From Farnhill to the Front” exhibition on Saturday 10th November 2018.

We had a great turn-out:

 

People enjoyed the slideshow:

We had displays of artefacts loaned to the project:

Upstairs, more displays and room for a coffee and a chat:

The Knitwick and Yarnhill poppy waterfall made an impressive sight:

The digitally restored Farnhill Methodist Chapel Roll of Honour was unveiled and on display throughout the day. (It will be framed and put on permanent display in the Institute.)

But amongst all the fun and chatter, there was always remembrance, commemoration and an appreciation of sacrifices made. Lest we forget.