What Tommy did next – Veterans' activities and organisations of the First World War, in the UK and beyond

During and after the First World War, soldiers’ and sailors’ families often suffered great hardship, with wage-earners away and meagre government support, so a variety of campaigning and welfare organisations sprang up to press for better conditions.  As the numbers of returning veterans rose into the millions, many of them chronically sick or disabled, the problems multiplied.  This symposium will look at a wide range of topics to do with veterans’ organisations, and some of the many activities they got involved with as a result of their war experiences.

Professor Jay Winter will give the Keynote Address on the subject ‘the Silences of the Men Who Served’, while another 29 speakers will give presentations on such varied themes as ‘veterans and crime in interwar Scotland’, ‘French ex-war nurse associations’, ‘collective identity in Czechoslovak Silesia’, ‘the Royal British Legion’s Women’s Section’ and ‘cartoons of identity, resilience and healing in England’.  You can view the full programme at the website what-tommy-did-next.org.uk 

The day will also see the UK launch of the Arts and Humanities Research Council-backed First World War Network of  scholars of postgraduate research students and early career researchers academics, intended to bring together all those with an interest in studying the First World War.

The event had a tremendous response to the Call For Papers and as a result the speakers come from a range of universities and other institutions, across the UK and beyond, including The National Archives and the Imperial War Museum.  This will be a rare opportunity for any historian interested in the First World War or related topics, to hear and debate with so many speakers, from professors to postgraduate research students, right here in the School of History, Classics and Archaeology.

Cost for the day is just £30 full price, £20 concessions, and includes lunch, teas and coffees.