A LOCAL history club will be be shining a light on the sacrifices of an east Durham community as it marks the centenary of the end of the First World War.

Wheatley Hill History Club is celebrating after learning it has been awarded £10,000 of National Lottery Funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the new project.

Wheatley Hill, like many similar mining towns and villages across the county sent its men to war in 1914. From the pits and the fields, they left to serve their King, to seek adventure or just to get a break from the backbreaking toil of colliery life.

The We All Served project, running between now and the 100th anniversary of the official end of the ‘war to end all wars’ on Peace Day in July 2019, will involve a series of workshops, reaching out to a diverse range of participants. The workshops will involve recording local family stories and the thoughts and feelings of today’s community about the conflict, asking important and sometimes pointed questions.

This recorded oral history will form part of the Wheatley Hill History Club’s archive and feature in a series of specially-commissioned multimedia projection events that will use film and image projections, music and the oral history recordings to commemorate the sacrifice of those who lived through such dark times.

Margaret Hedley of the Wheatley Hill History Club said: “We have put a great deal of effort into uncovering the truth behind Wheatley Hill’s war.

“Members of the history club have conducted tireless research into what going to war actually meant, not only for those that left to fight, but also for those left behind.

“We are delighted to be working with Lonely Tower Film & Media again and know that with this incredible support from the National Lottery we can not only capture the local relevance of the war to today’s community, but create a legacy to help future generations understand how the we marked this important centenary.”

Ivor Crowther, head of HLF North-East said, “The impact of the First World War was far reaching, touching and shaping every corner of the UK and beyond. Thanks to National Lottery players, communities like those involved in.

“We All Served are exploring the continuing legacy of this conflict and broadening our understanding of how it has shaped the modern world.”

This will be the second project that Wheatley Hill History Club have worked on with heritage media experts, Lonely Tower Film & Media.

Their previous collaboration resulted in the highly-acclaimed National Lottery-funded documentary film Beyond Praise – Thomas Kenny VC. It told the told the story of Wheatley Hill miner Thomas Kenny who was awarded the Victoria Cross, the nations highest award for bravery, during the First World War.

Marie Gardiner from Lonely Tower Film & Media said: “To be working with Margaret and the team at Wheatley Hill History Club again is an absolute joy.

"Everyone is so passionate about the areas history and the work that has been done during these centenary years is astounding. We know that with the communities support we can create something truly unique, moving and special.”

The projection events will be held around the November 11 and in July 2019.