Conflict and County

‘Oxfordshire Remembers 1914-18’

Summary from focus group research with audiences relating to

a military museum

Pluses:• Interesting and rewarding narrative

• Local people, local places

• Location within Woodstock Museum

• Both sides of an argument

• Then and now photographs

• People’s faces

• Personal belongings

• Interactives

• Challenges

• Story telling

• Timeline

• Surprises

Summary from focus group research with audiences relating to

a military museum

Minuses:

• Wariness of the army and its motives

• Little knowledge of local regiments

• Glorifying war

• Small dull objects, no context

• Don’t touch anything!

• Written paragraphs

• Paintings

• Distant history in distant places

‘Oxfordshire Remembers 1914-18’

• Tell interesting personal stories of Oxfordshire’s people at war.

• To explain about the war’s impact on Oxfordshire’s towns and villages 1914-18.

• Use those stories to explain OBLI’s and Yeomanry’s ‘significant moments’ during 1914-18.

Tell interesting personal stories of Oxfordshire’s people at war

The best case studies include:

• A strong image

• Significant biographical details

• A personal object or document

• A clear link to the OBLI/Yeomanry story

• Relationship with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire locality

To explain about the war’s impact on Oxfordshire’s towns and villages 1914-18.

Interpretation panels about the impact on villages, towns and the city of Oxford.

Use those stories to explain OBLI’s and Yeomanry’s ‘significant moments’ during 1914-18.

Key concept:A diverse war

• Geographically diverse

Mesopotamia, Russia, India, Greece, Africa.

• Socially diverse

Education, backgrounds, work, town, country, city.

Role of women, unions, charities.

• Ethnically diverse

Indians, Chinese, Russian, French, Belgians, Americans, Australians etc

• Militarily diverse

Land, sea, air

New technologies

Logistics

Other key concepts• Duty and Service – what would you

have done?

• Challenging myths about the war

Lions led by Donkeys, futility, joining up

• Explaining terminology –territorials, conscripts, division, brigade, regiment etc

Learning and partnerships programme

• Sikh students developing a touring exhibition

• Drama students putting on a play

• Army cadets interviewing the children of those who fought

• Collections day for people of Woodstock

• Heritage students designing an app for teenage visitors

• Dedicated workshop for KS3

• Informal gallery learning activities

• Visitors contribute stories

• Service children reflect upon their lives