The Great War: 100 Years Commemorations

Pickled plums help commemorate 100 Years since the Outbreak of the Great War

The 4 August will mark 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War.  Wakefield Museums have been commemorating the Great War throughout the year. 

Wakefield Museum has just opened a Great War trail, where a selection of First World War objects have been scattered around the permanent collections illustrating how war affected all areas of life in the district. These objects include a painted ostrich egg, weapons used in the trenches, letters home, and a jar of plums.  The plums have a label upon which is written

“Plums, bottled on the first day of the Great War, 1914- 18”

A painted ostrich egg, brought home by a soldier based in Africa.

A trench club

There is also an exhibition at Pontefract Museum ‘The Great War Inspires’ where community groups contributed to an artwork inspired by First World War objects from the museum’s collection.

The Great War Inspires exhibition.  Photo by Faceless Arts.

Plus Tweets from George Kellett’s 1918 diary.  The tweets provide a fascinating insight into the daily life of a WW1 solider. Follow at @WW1_Diary.

George Kellett - Follow his 1918 diary on twitter @WW1_Diary