Talk and discussion with the author Stephen Bourne to celebrate the launch of his book Black Poppies, published by The History Press. In 1914 Britain was home to at least 10,000 black Britons, many of African and West Indian heritage. Most of them were loyal to the ‘mother country’ when the First World War broke out. Despite being discouraged from serving in the British Army, men managed to join all branches of the forces, while black communities contributed to the…

Join Jo Walton, NADFAS approved lecturer, who will explore the lives and work of a group of young, avant-garde British artists such as C.R.W. Nevinson, Paul Nash, Percy Wyndham Lewis  and Stanley Spencer, considering the ways in which these artists recorded their own experiences of the First World War. Artists were recording their impressions in remarkable paintings, drawings and sculpture as well as creating posters, cartoons and even inventing camouflage. The lecture will discuss how artists were involved in the…

Study day on the First World War and medicine/injury/trauma/treatment/disability   Speakers include: Prof Steven Jeffery, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham Julia Midgley, an artist working on a project called War, Art & Surgery Ian Fellows, Focus Insight Wolverhampton Prof Jonathan Reinarz, Director, The History of Medicine Unit, University Of Birmingham, Emily Mayhew, author of Wounded: From Battlefield to Blighty Prof Nigel Hunt, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Health Research, University of Nottingham   A FREE…

Join us at the Barber Institute for a special one day colloquium exploring British Art & War during the First World War, inspired by our C.R.W. Nevinson exhibition. The impact of the First World War was experienced by both servicemen and civilians. Demonstrating that the war should be understood as an all-encompassing social crisis affecting everyone, this British Art & War 1914-18 colloquium will feature papers given by leading art historians. Papers will examine a diversity of perspectives of war…

October 2015 sees the 100th anniversary of the British West Indies Regiment and while often overlooked, men and women from Africa and the Caribbean played a key role in the First World War, making sacrifices to stand alongside the ‘mother country’. This discussion event is aimed at community groups and individuals who are already involved, or would like to become part of, projects that focus on the contribution of people from African and the Caribbean. Participants will have the opportunity…