Everyday Life in a Midlands County

We are delighted to announce the publication of a new book by one of our ‘Everyday Lives in War’ colleagues, Professor Karen Hunt, which provides a fascinating insight into how the people of Staffordshire coped with the challenges of everyday life during the First World War.

The genesis of the book lay in the recently discovered papers of the Mid-Staffordshire Military Appeals Tribunal in the Staffordshire Record Office archives. Supported by an award under the Heritage Lottery Fund ‘First World War Then and Now’ programme https://www.hlf.org.uk/looking-funding/our-grant-programmes/first-world-war-then-and-now, a team of volunteers from across the county were able to explore the experiences and backgrounds of those men who appeared before the tribunal, and build a picture of the economic and social life of a community at war.

Drawing on this research, together with material from diaries, letters, official records and newspapers, Karen has been able to bring together stories of hardship and opportunity, resilience and resistance, kindness and indifference. This book lets us hear the people of Staffordshire telling their own story, and adds to our understanding of the many ways in which the war entered every home, shop and business, and how those who lived and worked in them responded.

For more details of the project see  http://www.staffordshiregreatwar.com/2017/11/new-publication-staffordshires-war

For the publisher’s website see https://www.amberley-books.com/staffordshire-s-war.html