Grief, grit and humour – the First World War remembered

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Grief, grit and humour – ‘Enduring War’ opens at the British Library to mark the centenary of the First World War

 ‘Enduring War: Grief, Grit and Humour’ runs from 19 June to 12 October 2014

Christmas cards, letters, cartoons, posters and the manuscripts of celebrated war poets are among the collection on display for the first time in Enduring War: Grief, Grit and Humour, exploring the many ways those both at home and on the front line tried to cope with the enormity of the First World War.

With personal objects, such as letters, a handkerchief bearing lyrics for ‘It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary’, and schoolboy essays reacting to airship raids over London, as well as recruitment posters, humorous magazines and even a knitting pattern for balaclavas, the exhibition considers themes such as humour, faith, comradeship and family and looks at the contribution so many made to the war effort.

Key items in the exhibition include a letter from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to his mother describing his worries about his son serving at the Front, written in the light of his belief in Spiritualism. Also included in the exhibition on rare display is a letter from Isaac Rosenberg and the manuscripts of well-known war poets, such as Rupert Brooke.

Exploring the importance of humour during the war as a way to express or mask anxieties, the exhibition includes a selection of caricatures, cartoons, humorous Christmas cards, a romance novel set in a munitions factory and trench journals, magazines full of in-jokes and dark humour created at the Front to lift the troops’ spirits.

In a poignant conclusion, the exhibition explores the grief expressed over the millions of lives lost during the First World War. A soldier’s last letter home as he goes into battle is on display for the first time alongside manuscripts of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’, Vaughan Williams’ ‘A Pastoral Symphony’ and Laurence Binyon’s ‘For the Fallen’.

An atmospheric video and soundscape called ‘Writing Home’ has been commissioned for the show, using messages from personal postcards written to and from the front contributed by the public.

‘Enduring War’is part of the British Library’s support for theUK’s First World War Centenary programme, which includes leading the UK’s contribution to Europeana1914-1918.eu, the most important pan-European collection of first World War source material, and a brand new British Library First World War website with over 500 items from across Europe, articles by leading experts and teachers’ notes.

Alison Bailey, co-curator of the exhibition, says:
The exhibition brings together material that has come to have national significance, such as the manuscripts of now famous war poets, with less familiar items like Christmas cards and concert programmes that people might not expect to find in the British Library’s collection. For example, we have both a manuscript of Rupert Brooke’s poem ‘The Soldier’ and a card sent to him about socks. Personal and poignant stories sit alongside public statements and literary manuscripts, giving an enduring voice to some of the men, women and children who lived through the war.

 ‘Enduring War: Grief, Grit and Humour’ opens 19 June and runs until 12 October 2014.

 ‘Enduring War’is on the display in The Folio Society Gallery at the British Library and was supported by Europeana 1914–1918.

Exhibition opening hours
 Monday – Thursday 9.30 – 20.00, Friday 9.30 – 18.00, Saturday 9.30 – 17.00, Sunday and Bank Holidays 11.00 – 17.00

About the First World War Centenary

2014 - 2018 marks the Centenary of the First World War, a landmark anniversary for Britain and the world. The First World War Centenary Partnership, led by IWM is a growing network of over 2,800 local, regional, national and international cultural and educational not-for-profit organizations who together will be presenting a vibrant programme of cultural events and activities, and digital platforms which will enable millions of people across the world to discover more about life in the First World War. For more information visit www.1914.org

Europeana 1914–1918 brings together resources from libraries and archives across the globe with memories and memorabilia from families throughout Europe. In Europe, 10 great European libraries and two further partners have digitised more than 400,000 documents relating to the First World War from their collections – everything from rare trench newspapers to censored letters from troops - under the co-ordination of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin – Preußischer Kulturbesitz. Through europeana1914-1918.eu these collections can be found alongside more than 660 hours of film material from the period and personal memorabilia digitised at family history roadshows across Europe.