STORIES about Nottingham soldiers and their families in the First World War are being revealed for the first time in an exhibition.
All Quiet in the Weston Gallery, which opens on Friday, draws on material from the University of Nottingham's archives.
Assistant archivist Hayley Cotterill, who curated the exhibition, says a highlight has been uncovering the stories of Notts people behind the photographs, letters, postcards and diaries going on display.
She says the university's class registers show that nearly all its male students went off to war. She investigated a letter sent to a female student from the frontline by a former Nottingham student who signs himself only as Bob and mentions his university pals and fellow servicemen Bill and George.
Hayley takes up the story: "It said that their 'happy trio' had been broken up because Bill had been killed. It also gave the name of the third member of the trio, George.
"From this I was able to identify the three friends as 2nd Lieutenant Robert Wilford, 2nd Lt Arthur William Wilkinson and 2nd Lt George Ducker.
"The three appear to have met at the college where they were all studying to be teachers. We have class registers that show them enrolled together on the same course.
"Two of the friends wrote to The Gong, the college magazine, at one point, protesting against the publication of a poem that urged all male students to enlist.
"Despite this, the three had all joined the Army by 1916 and entered the Yorkshire Regiment. Two of them died and they have obituaries in The Gong. I couldn't find an obituary or war memorial entry for the third, George, so I believe he survived."
She adds: "Working on the exhibition has been brilliant. It's a chance to do in-depth research. At the time, these were ordinary men going off to their duty and now they get some recognition."
Another story of sacrifice revealed in the exhibition is that of the seven Chaworth Musters brothers of Annesley Park and Colwick Hall. Six fought in the war: Patricius, Jack, Anthony, Philip, Robert and Douglas. Only three were to return.
Like much of the private material held in the archives, the family's papers were donated to the university for safekeeping.
Hayley hopes the exhibition will encourage more people to use the university's archive, which has three million items going back to the 12th century.
"People are aware of the county records office and that they can use their archive but may think our archive here at King's Meadow Campus is only for the use of academics and students. We are open to absolutely everyone."
This is the first exhibition Hayley has curated at the university and she says it has been a fantastic experience. "Sometimes you get so used to the job you're doing and you forget – but you are actually holding something that was written in a Russian prisoner-of-war camp, you've got letters sent back from the frontline, and that soldier went on to die. It is amazing.
"These are not just pieces of paper. There are stories behind every letter and every photo. You can read about it in a book but to have an actual letter from the time and knowing what they are thinking brings it to life."
All Quiet in the Weston Gallery: The First World War in the University of Nottingham's Historic Collections is at the Weston Gallery, Lakeside Arts Centre, University Park, from Friday until August 17. For more details, call 0115 951 4565, e-mail mss-library@ nottingham.ac.uk or visit www.nottingham.ac.uk/mss.
