One hundred years after the start of the First World War, Manchester is hosting events to show how battle-injured soldiers coped with physical disability and mental illness.
In Manchester the events officially start today (Monday 1 December) and will include a lot of archive material from Manchester’s Central Library.
Cllr Sue Murphy, Deputy Leader at Manchester City Council, said: “The First World War brought an unprecedented number of newly disabled people into society – at a time when people didn’t understand or accept the full consequences of mental and physical injury.
“War poet Wilfred Owen, who was in the Manchester Regiment, is a famous example of a traumatised soldier suffering from shell shock – or what we would now call post-traumatic stress.”
Worldwide it is estimated that over 20 million soldiers were injured during World War One, and that overall 9.5 million were permanently disabled.
Hidden Histories of disabled veterans and the first world war, at Central Library on 17 December between 5pm and 7pm will be opened by Cllr Tracey Rawlins, who is lead member for disability issues at Manchester City Council. The event will feature a talk by Dr Carden-Coyne followed by a question and answer session – to give an insight into what happened to the men left disabled by war and the impact on their families.
at Central Library on 17 December between 5pm and 7pm will be opened by Cllr Tracey Rawlins, who is lead member for disability issues at Manchester City Council. The event will feature a talk by Dr Carden-Coyne followed by a question and answer session – to give an insight into what happened to the men left disabled by war and the impact on their families.
First World War: Soldiers, shellshock and disability: A Manchester Story from 1 December 2014 to 5 January 2015, curated by Manchester City Council disabled staff project group, is an interactive digital exhibition housed in the Virtual Archive Wall which is part of the Archives+ Heritage Lottery Funded exhibition, on the ground floor of Manchester’s iconic Central Library.
from 1 December 2014 to 5 January 2015, curated by Manchester City Council disabled staff project group, is an interactive digital exhibition housed in the Virtual Archive Wall which is part of the Archives+ Heritage Lottery Funded exhibition, on the ground floor of Manchester’s iconic Central Library.
International Disabled People’s Day, 3 December will also see an Archives handling session in Central Library. This session in Archives+ offers a unique opportunity to handle archives and rare books which are usually kept locked away in the strong rooms of Manchester Central Library. This is a chance to look through these historic items and ask questions about them.
First World War: shellshock and disability. The untold stories an exhibition hosted by The Peoples History Museum will run from 12 December 2014 – 5 January 2015.
