Harlow to Commemorate First World War

News from Harlow Council: 

Harlow Council is working with a number of individual residents and groups, including churches, schools, art groups, the museum and the Royal British Legion to mark the centenary of the first World War in August.  

The Council wants to ensure that the community is able to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as those who came home, along with the contribution of women and different ethnic minorities.

A working group is promoting and co-ordinating local events and is interested in hearing from relatives of members of the armed forces from World War 1 and anyone else with memories from that period. Please email the Council at contact@harlow.gov.uk 

The Council can give small grants to local organisations to assist with projects related to the first World War centenary. An application form can be downloaded at www.harlow.gov.uk/ww1

Work is underway to identify the names and last resting place of those who did not come back. These will be recorded in a special illustrated book based on the original research by Arthur Graham and on a war memorials and war graves map in Harlow.

Two of the town’s war memorials, in Potter Street and Great Parndon, are being refurbished and restored and others are being cleaned. Events will be held at Harlow Playhouse and in the Gibberd Gallery during the autumn, along with a memorial weekend at the Royal British Legion Club.  

The Potter Street war memorial will be re-dedicated at a special service at 11am on Monday  4 August 2014, on the hundredth anniversary of the start of World War 1 - all are welcome.

The Council will be publishing further activities at www.harlow.gov.uk/events, so is also encouraging the community to let it know of any similar events taking place to mark the centenary.

For more information on the First World War Centenary please visit www.1914.org