A new education resource exploring the impact of the First World War on East Dunbartonshire has been launched.
The new teaching and learning resource features stories from the EDLC archives and local studies collections - many of them new discoveries from the East Dunbartonshire's War research volunteers, who have spent the past two years exploring the lives of men, women and children living in the area during the First World War and their individual experiences.
The project team used their research to help produce a First World War education resource which will now be used in secondary schools across East Dunbartonshire.
It explores the impact of the First World War on the local area and has been developed by East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture (EDLC) Trust in conjunction with staff and students from Douglas Academy, Milngavie, and Kirkintilloch High.
The launch event featured a dramatic performance by Douglas Academy students based on letters from the Boyd brothers of Milngavie, and from the diaries of two local nurses who volunteered in the First World War - Elspeth Graham and Kate Jeffrey. The students’ powerful and moving performance helped bring real local stories from the First World War to life for those who attended.
Councillor Jim Gibbons, Convenor of the Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets Committee, said, “The launch of this education resource is an important part of the centenary commemorations of the First World War that have been organised over the past three years by East Dunbartonshire Council and the EDLC Trust.
“This excellent resource will help our students to learn about this tragic period in history in new and innovative ways, using original local sources, and to discover for themselves the stories behind the people from this area who were affected by the First World War.
“I’d like to thank the Douglas Academy students for their invaluable support with the project. Thanks must also go to Kirkintilloch High School and Bishopbriggs Academy staff who were part of the pilot project and helped develop the new education resource.”
Guests - including Councillors, pupils, parents, teachers and local residents - were also entertained by living history group, Scots in the Great War, while local enthusiast, Harry Doy, brought along his First World War collection.
Sandy Marshall, Chair of EDLC Trust, added, “We were delighted to also be joined by some of the relatives of the people whose stories featured in the performance. On behalf of the East Dunbartonshire’s War Project team, I’d like to thank them for their support and assistance while putting together this education resource and for allowing us to share their families’ unique experiences with a new generation one hundred years on.
“A group of volunteers spent many hours delving into the EDLC archives and local studies collections to discover untold stories of heroism, sacrifice and duty from the First World War to produce this education resource.
“It’s full of fascinating accounts of men and women from East Dunbartonshire who were involved in the First World War at home and on the battlefront and will help give pupils a deeper understanding of what life was like for them. The EDLC Trust board is grateful for the hard work and dedication they put in to help make this resource a reality.”
The East Dunbartonshire's War project is generously supported by the Scottish Government Public Library Improvement Fund administered by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC).
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