Description

World War I claimed over 900,000 British lives, and its legacy continues to be remembered today. Great War Britain: Northampton offers an intimate portrayal of the town and its people living in the shadow of the "war to end all wars." It describes the local reaction to the outbreak of war; charts the experience of individuals who enlisted; reveals the changing face of industry in the town, including the boom in shoemaking as the demand for hard-wearing soldier's boots soared; the work of the many hospitals in the area; the effect of the conflict on local children; and how the town and its people coped with the transition to life in peacetime. Vividly illustrated with evocative images from the Northamptonshire Regimental and Northamptonshire Yeomanry collections and from the Northampton Museum & Art Gallery archives, it commemorates the bravery and the resolution of the people of Northamptonshire during one of the most tumultuous eras in British history.