As we followed BBC2’s coverage and took part in ‘Lights Out’ to mark 100 years since the start of the First World War on Monday (pictured) I couldn’t help but think what a legacy the commemorations will leave for BB and children of her generation.
When I was little everything I learnt about the first and second world wars came from the pages of dog-eared history books or a teacher’s scribblings on a black board, but with the advent of the internet and social media a whole new world has opened up, quite literally.
My dad has spent the last few months uploading photos and information about his grandfathers – BB’s great-great grandfathers – to the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War ‘real lives’ database, meaning that at the click of a mouse she will be able to learn all about the roles her ancestors played.
That information, brought to life with real photographs, will be easily accessible for ever more and so will the records of millions of other servicemen and women for their descendants to discover. How amazing is that?
Of course being almost three it will be a little while until she’s likely to come home from school charged with the task of a World War One project, but when she does there’ll be no need for dog-eared history books.
I’m looking forward to it already…
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