To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, a major new exhibition at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery will bring to life the wartime experiences of 15 people whose personal stories reveal the impact of war.
The exhibition, called War Stories: Voices from the First World War will run from July 12 2014 - March 1 2015. Admission is free.
The wide range of people featured will reveal both familiar and surprising stories of a war that profoundly changed British society.
Visitors will be able to see the war through the eyes of a young girl, born into war in 1914; young soldiers from Brighton who fought and died on the Western Front, including a Brighton & Hove Albion footballer; an Indian soldier wounded on the Front and taken to hospital in the Royal Pavilion in Brighton ; nurses who cared for the wounded; a young gardener who was imprisoned for his pacifist beliefs; and others.
Relatives of those featured have contributed letters, diaries, medals, photographs, uniforms, and other personal items which help to evoke the love, excitement, fear, bravery, grief loss and longing that touched the lives of millions of people.
Councillor Geoffrey Bowden, chair of Brighton & Hove City Council's Economic Development and Culture Committee, said: "The exhibition will commemorate the historic anniversary of the start of World War One and recount the experiences of local people caught up in the conflict - bringing their stories to life for younger generations.
"We asked people last year to share their wartime family stories with us for the exhibition and the detailed accounts they have provided, from young brothers going off to war, to a nurse tending the wounded brought to Brighton to recuperate, provide a powerful and moving insight into the way so many lives were affected in so many ways."
War Stories: Voices from the First World War is one of a number of special displays and exhibitions being organised by the Royal Pavilion & Museums http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/press-release/war-stories-commemorating-centenary-world-war-one-brighton-hove
This exhibition is part of the INTERREG IVA 2Seas programme, a European funded programme supporting cross-border co-operation between UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands www.greatwar1418.eu/en/agenda
War Stories: Voices from the First World War
12 July 2014 - 1 March 2015
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton BN1 1EE Tel 03000 290900
Admission free
Open Tue-Sun 10am-5pm, Closed Mon (except Bank Holidays 10am-5pm), 25 & 26 Dec & 1 Jan.
www.brighton-hove-rpml.org.uk
Further information:
Brighton & Hove City Council press office: 01273 291035