The outbreak of the First World War is currently being marked across the country from parades to exhibitions and from television documentaries to dramas such as the BBC’s The Crimson Field. One event that is running in Underground stations across Central London every Tuesday for 12 weeks is a partnership between the Imperial War Museum and Exterion Media and their XTP screens.

A series of short films about some unusual and surprising stories emanating from the Great War, will be broadcast on to the Cross-Track Projection (XTP) screens. The content spots were created by IWM and come in 20 second episodes. They contain rare photos and remarkable facts about the First World War, many of which are related to the modern day life of a typical Tube commuter.

Transport for London (TfL) is also carrying out a series of activities to commemorate the key role that transport staff played in keeping London moving during the War and as part of the War effort.  As part of this, the London Transport Museum unveiled a restored double deck open top B-type bus on June12th. They were commandeered into military service at the beginning of the war in 1914 along with their civilian drivers and mechanics. Over 1,000 London buses were deployed for use on the Front Line.

A special exhibition is also being held at the London Transport Museum, called Goodbye Piccadilly – from Home Front to Western Front, which commemorates the contribution of London’s motor buses and their drivers and mechanics to the First World War and the upheaval for Londoners on what became for the first time the ‘Home Front’.

Jane Richardson of the Imperial War Museums says: “The First World War was a landmark event, which changed the world for ever. A hundred years on, it is through the stories, moments and photos from that time that we can get a glimpse into what life was like for the generation who lived, fought, died and survived the war. Everyone is connected to the war, whether through their own family history, the way in which it shaped life today, or through their local communities and how they were affected.”

Simon Harrington of Exterion Media comments: “XTP is an effective way of engaging the many Londoners on an Underground platform as they wait for their next train. As a result, we are thrilled to partner with Imperial War Museums in a campaign that is not only uniquely visual, but also culturally educational. The partnership gives commuters snippets around a hugely important part of the UK’s history, while it also showcases the flexible nature of our London Underground screens to advertisers.”

Incidentally The Old Contemptibles was a title adopted by members of the British Expeditionary force sent to France in 1914 who believed the German Kaiser had referred to them in dismissive terms. Zanzibar harbour in Africa saw a naval battle in 1915 between the German and British navies, while the German code name for the bombing of English cities was Ostend Carrier Pigeon Detachment.

Are you involved in any commemorations to mark the First World War? Send your events to harry@linkpublishing.co.uk

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To gain an idea of how the Imperial War Museum in London has been transformed have a look at this time lapse film below made by the museum:

ENDS