Edinburgh researchers launch online WWI archive

Researchers from the University of Edinburgh have compiled an archive that details Edinburgh’s participation and achievements throughout the First World War (WW1), in collaboration with Edinburgh City Libraries, historians and community groups. 

The archive aims at showing what people and institutions in Edinburgh, Leith and the Lothians did during the Great War.

Yvonne McEwen of the University's Centre for the Study of The Two World Wars, told The Journal: “The contribution in men, women, finances, innovations and enterprise were quite amazing.”

Scotland had the highest proportion of voluntary enlistments in the United Kingdom. Scottish women also played a prominent role in the conflict, particularly in medicine and nursing.

“That is why we developed the project, ‘Edinburgh's War’,” added Mrs McEwen. “We believe the story of this great city and country's contribution to the war effort is long overdue for researching, recording and telling.”

People on the Home Front supported the men and women serving on the fighting fronts with great determination and generosity. Included in the archive are stories of men and women from Leith working in engineering posts, hospital ships using the Port of Leith, the Red Cross running a dressing station at the Victoria Dock jetty, and Leith Hospital being used as a military war hospital.

Most of the stories are being told for the first time and it is likely that many people in Scotland are not aware of what happened in Edinburgh during WW1.

Letters and postcards exchanged between the Home and Fighting Fronts contributed largely to the raising of morale at the Fighting Front, despite the censoring of mail.

Former pupils, Girl Guides, sportsmen and women were involved in all kinds of activities to support, raise money for, or entertain troops.

Mrs McEwen commented on the touching “kindness and generosity of the people on the Home Front who worked towards the comfort and relief of physical and psychological distress in the fighting forces.

“Despite the awfulness of the war, compassion, humanity and humour sustained our men and women on the fighting fronts.”