the @tWW1tter project
Commemorating World War 1
2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War 1. There are many ways in which we can remember what happened during this war. During it, alas, it became apparent that it was not, after all, to be the war to end all wars.
In the @tWW1tter project, events are being made into tweets to be put on Twitter to relate each story in its 140 characters per tweet. The First Battle of Ypres was tweeted last year. More battles will be tweeted later this year using contemporary sources to generate the tweets.
If you want to become a battle-tweeter, tell us that you would like be added to the tweeting list at info@ealingautumnfestival.co.uk.
When
Next date to be announced.
Where
The Green Room
Ealing Central Library
Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre
103 The Broadway
London W5 5JY
How to get there
Nearest station Ealing Broadway: 5-10 minutes walk
Central and District Lines, National Rail (Heathrow Connect)
Buses: E1, E2, E8, E7, E9, E10, E11, 65, 83, 207, 266, 427, 607
Free
Look out for more information about tweeting events scheduled for later in the year!
We will be demonstrating the @tWW1tter project as tweets go out.
There will be talks about transforming written history into one of the most up-to-the-minute means of communicating with each other. You will also have the opportunity to start writing your own tweets to go on to Twitter for the next battle.
The original version from the official war record:
Oct 19th
About 10.30 A.M. Sir Henry Rawlinson received a report from the 3rd Cavalry Division that the 10th Hussars of the 6th Cavalry Brigade has taken Ledeghem.
Military Operation, France and Belgium, 1914: Edmonds, J. E. (James Edward) Vol 2
These are some of the online sources for the project:
From Mons to Ypres with General French: A Personal Narrative
by Frederic Coleman
Coleman was an American journalist who worked as a driver for the British field-marshal, General John French. He saw the war through the eyes of the leading generals to the ordinary private soldier.
Pages 253-340 are about the First Battle of Ypres.
http://www.sikhs.nl/worldwar1.htm
An account of the Indian troops distinguishing themselves on the battlefield.
Military Operation France and Belgium, 1914 Vol 2: J. E. Edmonds
This is the official British war record of the First Battle of Ypres.
Pages 125-460 relate directly to the battle.
World War 1 was not a fully automated war. Horses were essential to move artillery, field kitchens, ambulances and all else. However, their vulnerabilty to attack, and additional problems with mud, finally heralded the arrival of the tank which transformed future warfare.
The tweet:
19 Mon #BEF 10.30am Sir Henry Rawlinson received report: 3rd Cavalry Division of 10th Hussars of the 6th Cavalry Brigade had taken Ledeghem.
The tweet is 140 characters long. #BEF tells that the original version is from the British Expeditionary Force: Military Operation, France and Belgium, 1914.
The Cloth Hall of Ypres (above) was completed with pride in 1304.
Below, the terrible depredations of the shelling is a symbol of all who suffered in the First Battle of Ypres in 1914.
The Sun
