IT is said that every family across Britain was affected by the First World War as millions of sons, fathers, mothers and daughters played their parts in the conflict.

Now the Museum of Oxford is hoping to find out more about ordinary men and women from the city whose stories have yet to be told.

The museum launches Lost Voices of Oxford’s Great War tomorrow at Oxford Town Hall, which was used as a military hospital during the conflict.

The project, which is sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund, will collect, share and preserve stories and undiscovered artefacts of the city’s people and places during the First World War.

Staff and volunteers from the museum and Oxford University will be on hand to help visitors share their own stories and memorabilia from the war online.

In March 2015, these stories will be brought together by theatre company Underconstruction, which will perform them at the Museum of Oxford.

The museum’s community engagement partnership officer, Antonia Harland-Lang, said: “We felt it was really important with the centenary of the First World War that we did something that provided a sort of focus for stories which encompass the city and the university which are a little less well known.

“We want to reach out to new audiences, people who don’t know a lot about the heritage and history of the area.

“The stories gathered through the project will make up the theatre piece and it will be performed to schools and members of the public.”

Visitors to the town hall will also be able to learn about its history as a military hospital and a number of other activities will be on offer.

The Waterloo Band of The Rifles will perform in the main hall from noon to 12.30pm on Saturday and at 2.30pm historical author Margaret Bonfiglioli will give a talk about her new book Full of Hope and Fear, which features newly discovered private family letters from the conflict.

Free tours of the town hall will run at 11am and 2pm on Saturday and 1pm and 2.30pm on Sunday, as well as self-guided family trails which are available all weekend.

Council board number for culture and communities Christine Simm said: “The Museum of Oxford and the town hall are both unique buildings and the council is keen that more people get to know them and their role in Oxford’s civic history and modern life.

“We are particularly delighted that at this year’s Open Doors we will be launching the Lost Voices of Oxford’s Great War project, which will uncover and preserve stories of sacrifice and courage of ordinary people in Oxford during the First World War.

“For the first time, visitors to the town hall will also be able to learn about the building’s little-known history as a military hospital during the war.”

To get invovled with the project, people should go to the events at Oxford Town Hall this weekend.

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