Look ahead to events and activities planned for the final year of commemorations

As the Worcestershire World War One Hundred programme enters the final year of commemorations the focus becomes increasingly reflective as we explore the impact of World War One locally and nationally as well as continuing to remember the loss of life at the Front.

On 25 December 1917 the Worcestershire World War One Hundred Daily Diary records the death of one soldier Pte. Fred Higginson 241646 of the South Staffordshire Regiment, bringing the number of casualties to 8396 and with still 9 months to go the toll will continue to rise. To keep a track of the activity at the Front and at Home you can read our diary here.

From March 2018 until November The People’s Collection will open at venues across Worcestershire sharing the stories of the people of Worcestershire those that served at the Front and those who stayed at home. This series of exhibitions which will culminate at The Hive around Armistice 2018 and will feature items donated from across the County including letters, diaries, artefacts and photographs. Residents are still able to contribute their family stories to the exhibition and should contact the Worcestershire World War One Hundred Team via the website here.

At Worcester City Museum and Art Gallery two exhibitions will explore the impact of World War One from two different perspectives. The War to End All Wars, 3rd February – 10th November, will feature artwork and objects from the Museum's collection exploring how Worcestershire people's lives changed in the years following the war; from women's rights to social housing, mental health to mourning.

From 17 February to 2 June, the Gallery will host Benjamin Williams Leader: Blest by the Suns of Home. Benjamin Williams Leader, Worcestershire's greatest artist became an international success with his paintings of the idyllic English landscape. During World War One, these images took on a new emotional appeal with connotations of a landscape worth fighting for.

The exhibition brings together Leader's beautiful paintings from the Worcester City Collection with loans from both private and national collections, including a work from the Royal Collection purchased in 1914 by King George V. In contrast it also explores poignant imagery of the ruined landscapes of France and Belgium after the War. Read more about Leader’s work here.

Dr Adrian Gregson, Worcestershire World War One Hundred Project Manager said: “This last Christmas of World War One is particularly poignant as we begin to think about the impact of the War from the loss of life on the battlefield to the stories we have uncovered of those left at home. Over the coming months we invite residents to visit one of our projects, exhibitions or events and really understand what World War One meant to our County.”