Posted on 23/05/2014
Volunteer Tom Whitehead interviews Stella Mummery about her experiences as a journalist during the Second World War.
Surrey residents who lived through the Second World War have shared their personal memories with students at Royal Holloway, University of London, as part of a project to document first-hand accounts of the conflict.
The Memories of War project, which coincides with the First World War centenary this year, has seen students create an archive of 30 video interviews with residents from Sunrise and Merlewood care homes, in Virginia Water, as well as members of the local community.
In addition, the students spoke to 20 soldiers from the Coldstream Guards, in Windsor, to record their memories of more recent conflicts. The videos will be used to make short documentaries to be shown in local schools and will also be exhibited at a special event in Royal Holloway’s Windsor Building on Tuesday 3 June. Royal Holloway Community Action is the official partner for the community project which has been funded by Heritage Lottery.
Speaking to students and alumni from the History, English, Drama and Media Arts Departments at Royal Holloway, the interviewees’ stories included one woman’s experience in a refugee camp in Germany and another resident who spoke about how she smuggled sweets into the air raid shelters.
Bill Thisdell, a graduate in MA Documentary Practice, said he felt honoured to have spoken to Territorial Army veteran George Murray, who passed away soon after their interview: “I’m so glad I got the opportunity to speak to George and hear about his experiences of the war. He told me some great stories about his time in the Territorial Army tank squad, including how they gave him the nickname ‘Tubby’ because he was as thin as a rake.”
The project, which has been carried out in collaboration with Egham Museum, began in September 2013. The Memories of War exhibition at Royal Holloway will be open to the public from 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday 3 June.
Professor Jonathan Phillips, Head of the Department of History at Royal Holloway, said: “The Memories of War project has been an innovative and exciting way for students to learn about the impact of conflict and its effects on both individuals and communities. The memories the students have recorded will not only resonate with their understandings of war, but will endeavour to ensure that the day-to-day realities of living through conflict are not lost in time.”
To attend the Memories of War exhibition at Royal Holloway, please RSVP to RuthDewaeghammuseum.org