We Were There Too seeks information from First World War memorial boards to build its
database on the lives of Jewish servicemen.
The online community project We Were There Too (WWTT) has compiled a database of memorial boards containing the names of those from the Jewish community who served during the First World War. With over 1,000 names currently on the register, the portal aims to gather information currently on display in synagogues, cemeteries, and museums to find out more about the Jewish service personnel who volunteered during the war.
WWTT Project Manager, Rodney Ross said: “We currently have 29 memorial boards listed from communities around the UK and we will be adding more in the future. We are aware that many synagogues and community centres, especially in the smaller communities, have closed and we are keen to trace any memorial boards that might have been taken down and secured. There might also be boards that we are still unaware of.”
WWTT created the online database in response to widespread concerns of the memorial boards’ longevity among local authority archives. Collaborators can use the project’s website to submit new information on memorial boards including a full roster of names, ranks, and service profiles of the personnel listings. Recent additions to the database have been made by local contributions from Manchester Reform Synagogue, Rainsough Cemetery, and Manchester Jewish Museum.
“Many of these important memorials are made from fragile materials and are deteriorating rapidly,” said Senior Project Consultant Alan Fell. “The interest in the project has been highly positive and we are asking people who know of any memorial boards that are not listed on our site to inform us so we can capture the information for posterity and ensure it is not lost.”
To find out more and contribute to the memorial board database, visit Jewsfww.uk or email Contactus@ jewsfww.uk