Local towns including Hartlepool, Redcar, Stockton, and Easington feature in the seven projects that between them will share more than £100,000. They will cover the role of the fishing fleets, young men in their teens going off to war, fashion, entertainment and food on the home front, the contribution of black soldiers, Scottish Teesiders and the plight of the families left behind.

Ivor Crowther, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund for the North East, said: “The First World touched every part of the UK and beyond and this fascinating collection of stories shows the sheer scope of the North East’s involvement, where even the home front was not immune from direct attack. Our funding, £784,200 on 60 projects in the North East to date, is enabling even more communities like those in today’s announcement to explore the continuing legacy of this conflict and help local young people in particular to broaden their understanding of how it has shaped our modern world.”

Heroism & Heartbreak: True Tales from the Hartlepools at War: £54,500 grant
The Nautical Archaeological Society North East will be uncovering the stories of local fishermen who served in the Merchant Navy and crewed the town’s inshore and deep-sea fishing fleets during the First World War. They will tell the largely unknown story of the exploits, courage and suffering of the men and their families by creating a website and organising a road-show. At the outbreak of the war Hartlepool was a major shipbuilding centre and records show that a staggering 400 vessels either built or owned in the town were sunk during hostilities around the world. The town was even bombarded on one occasion by a German naval squadron causing the death of 119 people. As part of the project divers will gather information from the sunken wrecks of some of the vessels that were lost during the conflict.

Contact: Gary Green on: 01642 288164, email: mike.mcgrother@gmail.com

WW1 Research and Performance for Young People: £7,000 grant
Local young people will explore life on the home front in Redcar and Cleveland during the First World War with a particular emphasis on fashion, food, music and dance. The project will be run by the local authority at Tuned In! , the multimedia and performing arts centre for young people. Research visits will be made to a local cemetery and the Heugh Battery Museum and the information gathered will be presented in the form of a play performance and through examples of vintage fashion, music, dance and food produced by those taking part.

Contact: Marsha Garratt on tel: 07886650103 or email: admin@culturescic.co.uk

Tyneside Scottish Centenary – TS100: £8,000 grant
The Tyneside Scottish was a First World War Pals battalion and is the only surviving Pals unit serving in the British Army, having most recently fought in Afghanistan. The project will involve veterans from the modern Tyneside Scottish working with local schools, churches and residents to commemorate the soldiers who signed up at the start of the First World War and went on to suffer heavy casualties at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Activities organised as part of the project, which is organised by the Tyneside Scottish Association Branch Royal Artillery Association, includes using a military training area where young people from the Army Cadet Force can experience staying overnight in a trench. Information gathered will be used to create a DVD, website and exhibition display material.

Contact: Ian Jones on tel: 07740 284763 or email: j.martin@easingtoncsc.net

Remembering the WW1 soldiers from Middleton-in-Teesdale: £9,000 grant
Middleton-in-Teesdale is a rural area where many families have lived for generations so that many of those named on the local war memorial still have descendants living locally. This project, by Middleton-in-Teesdale and Newbiggin Parish Council, will bring together the memories and artefacts held by local people to uncover the stories of men from the village who died in the conflict. The information will be used to create a local exhibition. The project also involves restoration work to the war memorial.

Contact: Mrs Alison Brown on tel: 01833 640957 or email: alison.brown3newtown@btinternet.com.

Further information

HLF press office, Laura Bates, on tel: 0207 591 6027 or email: lbates@hlf.org.uk.