Oxford: The War and the World

Oxford’s First World War story involves people from all over the world. There are those from Oxford who left, and travelled to other countries; those who stayed, and experienced Oxford’s increasing international connections during the conflict; and those who arrived in Oxford from other places because of the war. All of them experienced the war in different ways, and 12 of them are commemorated in the mini-exhibition Oxford, the War and the World.

This exhibit will share these stories with visitors from Oxford and beyond, highlighting the wartime experiences of both ‘town’ and ‘gown’ as well as those who cannot be so easily categorized. On display at Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum until 31st July 2019, it will enable visitors to learn about individual stories that highlight Oxford’s international connections during the First World War, and to expand their understanding of different types of war experiences beyond the trenches.

Visitors to the exhibition will learn about Charles Ambridge, the New Zealand soldier who died here and is buried in Botley Cemetery; Hardit Singh Malik, the Indian student at Oxford who became a fighter pilot; May Wedderburn Cannan, who volunteered in France and became famous for her poems; Rajani Palme Dutt, the conscientious objector studying at Oxford; Lily Green, who worked at the 3rd Southern General Hospital; Constance Coltman, the pioneering female minister who served in Oxford; and six others. Individually, they show how varied Oxford’s war experiences could be; together, they urge visitors to question the relationship between Oxford’s ‘local’ and ‘global’ history.

Click here for Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum opening times and admission prices.