At 11am on 11 November 1918 the guns fell silent and the First World War was declared over. A century on, as the country commemorates the sacrifice made by so many, stories of key figures at the University are set to be brought to life through a series of articles published on a new website.

The website builds on All Quiet in the Weston Gallery, an exhibition hosted at Nottingham Lakeside Arts in 2014, which looked at the war through the eyes of the people who experienced it.

Featuring the research and expertise of Professor John Beckett and Mike Noble of the Department of History, who also lead the Centre for Hidden Histories, the website includes stories about key members of staff in the war, the role of students, the role of the current Officer Training Corps (OTC), and how the estate belonging to the University (formerly ‘University College Nottingham’) was used to support the national effort.

In the lead up to 11 November 2018 there will also be a number of events taking place on campus to commemorate the anniversary, including a plaque unveiling at Sutton Bonington and a wreath laying at University Park.

Further work is also planned following the news that Mr Noble’s work with a community history group has won Heritage Lottery Funding to continue researching the OTC. Mr Noble is also keen to expand the names on the University’s memorial plaque and make contact with surviving relatives.

Mr Noble said: “One of the fascinating aspects of the First World War is the way that it affected the lives of ordinary people. We’re very keen to discover how the war was experienced by the staff and students of University College Nottingham and the contributions that they made to it. We would be delighted to hear from anyone with a relative or ancestor who may have worked or studied at the College before the end of the war.”

If you are interested in getting involved in Mr Noble’s work please get in touch by emailing michael.noble@nottingham.ac.uk.