Not everyone makes the history books – but everyone has got a story to tell.
Welcome to Heart of Conflict, a project run by the charity Bridging Arts marking the centenary of World War One. We’re based in Cornwall and are working to uncover stories, photographs and memories relating to the conflict. We started in 2014 in the Camborne/Redruth area – and now are working across the county. An exhibition displaying some of the stories ran from December 16- June 17 at the Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro. We’ve since uncovered a 100-year-old bugle and taken Camborne Youth Band out to the World War One battlefields where the great-great grandson of its owner played the Last Post in 2018.
These are just some of the stories. This website is a pinboard of information. If you’d like to look for a certain item, click on the Stories tab to find the Search box.
The early years of the war ripped the heart out of villages in Cornwall. Many of the young men who enlisted so eagerly in 1914 – at the very start of the war – did not survive. The war memorials in villages, churches, chapels and town squares bear witness to this. The lists of names are long. Many surnames are repeated: brothers and cousins. Many families lost more than one son.
Girl Guides, Women’s Institute members, librarians, local historians and general enthusiasts have been working together to collect these stories and help to bring history alive.
Heart of Conflict aims to ensure that memories are preserved and the actions are remembered of those who gave their lives so readily, as well as the lives and heritage of those who returned.
Heart of Conflict is run by Bridging Arts , originally with the support of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.