Remembering War: Your memories
View the memories of war that have been submitted to our online memory bank. 'Remembering War: Your memories' was part of the 'Remembering War' event, which supported the 'War and Medicine' exhibition.
Whether they are of an actual experience, of watching a film, or of listening to others recount their experiences, our minds are infused with memories of war and conflict.
From 11 November 2008 to 15 February 2009, we invited you to share your memories.
At Wellcome Collection's 'Remembering War' event in January 2009, Professor Martin Conway and his colleague Dr Catriona Morrison from the University of Leeds analysed these memories to give us further insight into how society remembers conflict.
Featured memories
The Falklands
As a student living in Portsmouth in the early '80s I was acutely aware of the build up to the war. Being a bit left of centre I wasn't overly impressed by Thatcher's jingoism, but when news of HMS Sheffield's sinking reached us I too was caught up in the patriotic fervour. All of my considered approach went out of the window and I'd have been happy to go and fight myself. It might be a little glib, but it serves to remind me that patriotism can be used to make fools of us all.
Father's war experience
Watching TV film at home on WW1 (Passchendaele battle), I saw my father break down sobbing - the only time I saw him cry except for the death of my mother, three years earlier. On both occasions he seemed inconsolable, his customary stern facade lost.
He never directly talked of his experiences otherwise: running away from school, joining up underage in 1916, being returned, re-enlisting in 1917, wounded in 1918, spending several years hospitalised with 'neurasthenia'.
The Wellcome Trust is not responsible for the content of the memories on this site.
For more information, please email: info@wellcomecollection.org
