THE ROLE played by the community of a former Catholic college during the First World War will be placed under the spotlight in a new exhibition.

Ushaw College, near Durham, has been granted £9,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) First World War: then and now programme to mount an exhibition in the summer.

Curator Claire Marsland said: “We are trying to bring out stories that are unique to Ushaw. There are men from Ushaw who served on the frontline, including students, teachers and domestic staff.

“We are trying to pick out their individual stories and the experiences they had.

"The project will also explore how those on the Home Front at Ushaw contributed to the war effort.

"In the first year of the war, for example, the military requisitioned the farming equipment and animals, so they were not able to take in their crops."

Among the stories featured will be that of Father William Finn, who served as a chaplain with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

At the first Gallipoli landings he was told to stay on board, but felt his place as a priest was with the men.

Despite being injured, he continued to crawl around the beach to give comfort and last rites to soldiers - until he was hit a second time and died.

The exhibition will include objects from the archives and collections of Ushaw College including a portable altar, medals, letters and paintings as well as the Roll of Honour listing the names of 460 students and staff from Ushaw who served in the First World War - 76 of whom were killed.

One of the more unusual items is a set of drawers used by students in their tuck shop which is covered in graffiti, some of which refers to men who died in the War.

As well as the exhibition, which will open in mid July, Ushaw will be offering free workshops to local schools during the Autumn, when they can visit the exhibition and learn more about the wartime experiences of Ushaw men.

Curators at Ushaw are keen to hear from anyone with information about people from the college who served in the War and whose stories could be included in the exhibition.

Anyone with information should contact the projects’s research assistant Stephanie Maurel on 0191 334 5119 or by email on s.m.maurel@durham.ac.uk.

Ushaw College director of estates Peter Seed said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund to mount this exhibition which will shine a light on the contribution of the Ushaw community in the First World War”.