Leyton & Leytonstone

Historical Society

meet Great War experts;

meet some First War soldiers, ask them about their experiences and hear about  a Tommy’s life at the Front;

visit the local parish church with its War Memorials;

hear about local people’s experiences and about the many casualties buried in local cemeteries;

hear the stories of how people’s ancestors fought and survived the war;

discover the major contribution local industry made with the ‘B’ buses which carried to the troops to the Front;

learn about two forgotten local heroes; J. B. McDowell, one of the men who filmed ‘The Battle of the Somme’ and Haydn Mackey, the war artist whose work hangs in the Imperial War Museum;  

find out how to build your own First War memorabilia collection;

learn how to use local research to create a First War blog;

meet locally based  authors (subject to availability) including Peter Doyle, Phil Sutcliffe; Steven Jenkins; Alan Simpson; Graham Millington; Malcolm Doolin who will be signing copies of their books;

find out about the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Royal British Legion;

have your medals valued by Antiques Road Show expert, Mark Smith;

read about medical support at the Front;

see why local schools still value the importance of visiting the Western Front;

search for your First War ancestors on line;

explore the local Roll of Honour;

read local newspapers from the war years;

hear the music of the time;

buy second hand books;

Visitors can come for all or part of the day. The event is free with collections for linked charities. Refreshments will be available for a small donation.

Vestry House Museum is in Vestry Road, Walthamstow, a short walk from Hoe Street and the railway, underground and bus stations. St Mary’s Church is a two minute walk from Vestry House

First World War Day, 6 May 2017