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World War One: Family stories uncovered	World War One: Family stories uncovered
2014-03-09 00:40:12 UTC	2014-03-09 09:15:23 UTC (about 9 hours later)
The World War One centenary means personal war diaries, letters and photos are emerging from dusty attics and drawers across the UK and beyond to offer a different perspective of the conflict.	The World War One centenary means personal war diaries, letters and photos are emerging from dusty attics and drawers across the UK and beyond to offer a different perspective of the conflict.
The National Archives has begun the mammoth task of digitising 1.5 million WW1 diary pages, mainly taken from official war diaries, describing the lives of British soldiers on the front line.	The National Archives has begun the mammoth task of digitising 1.5 million WW1 diary pages, mainly taken from official war diaries, describing the lives of British soldiers on the front line.
Following the launch of the project, BBC News asked readers to tell us about some of their own treasured documents from the time. A huge number and range of items were sent in, from vivid diaries of life in the trenches and heart-felt letters to photographs of war graves.	Following the launch of the project, BBC News asked readers to tell us about some of their own treasured documents from the time. A huge number and range of items were sent in, from vivid diaries of life in the trenches and heart-felt letters to photographs of war graves.
This kind of material allows people to "make a direct connection with those who were alive at the time", says Luke Smith from Imperial War Museums. Its own ambitious digital project, Lives of the First World War, will enable anyone to upload and share information of those who served in uniform during the war and worked on the home front.	This kind of material allows people to "make a direct connection with those who were alive at the time", says Luke Smith from Imperial War Museums. Its own ambitious digital project, Lives of the First World War, will enable anyone to upload and share information of those who served in uniform during the war and worked on the home front.
Even the smallest of artefacts can contain the greatest of memories. In 2001 Moira McPartlin, from Killearn, Stirlingshire, discovered the 1918 diary of her grandfather James McPartlin - whom she had never met - tucked away in an old wallet in a drawer.	Even the smallest of artefacts can contain the greatest of memories. In 2001 Moira McPartlin, from Killearn, Stirlingshire, discovered the 1918 diary of her grandfather James McPartlin - whom she had never met - tucked away in an old wallet in a drawer.
Despite being only 1.5in by 3in (4cm x 7.5cm) and containing nine entries, the diary gave "a real connection with this man and I felt his pain", said Moira.	Despite being only 1.5in by 3in (4cm x 7.5cm) and containing nine entries, the diary gave "a real connection with this man and I felt his pain", said Moira.
James had been gassed and spent most of a year in hospital. "He told me his whole story in these few words," she says.	James had been gassed and spent most of a year in hospital. "He told me his whole story in these few words," she says.
The diary is "beginning to fall apart" and must now be handled with care.	The diary is "beginning to fall apart" and must now be handled with care.
The memories of Reginald Goatham are held together in a small, brown, leather suitcase. It is now in the possession of his great-niece Anne Warner, who lives in Seattle, in the US. The collection was put together by Reginald's sister Olive, Anne's great-aunt and the "family historian".	The memories of Reginald Goatham are held together in a small, brown, leather suitcase. It is now in the possession of his great-niece Anne Warner, who lives in Seattle, in the US. The collection was put together by Reginald's sister Olive, Anne's great-aunt and the "family historian".
It contains medals, images and correspondence from Reginald and others, including the note from his platoon sergeant to advise of Reginald's death in 1916.	It contains medals, images and correspondence from Reginald and others, including the note from his platoon sergeant to advise of Reginald's death in 1916.
The memories and the suitcase have now passed to Anne, and Reginald is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial, among the names of tens of thousands of soldiers who died at the Somme.	The memories and the suitcase have now passed to Anne, and Reginald is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial, among the names of tens of thousands of soldiers who died at the Somme.
"When I first heard the story and looked at the suitcase with Auntie Olive I used to think how difficult it must have been for her to cope with her brother being killed when she was only 11 years old," says Anne.	"When I first heard the story and looked at the suitcase with Auntie Olive I used to think how difficult it must have been for her to cope with her brother being killed when she was only 11 years old," says Anne.
By the time she came into possession of the suitcase she had children of her own and her thoughts turned to her great-grandmother. How did she feel when hearing of Reginald's death? Was she relieved when the war was over before her second son, Anne's grandfather, could be called up?	By the time she came into possession of the suitcase she had children of her own and her thoughts turned to her great-grandmother. How did she feel when hearing of Reginald's death? Was she relieved when the war was over before her second son, Anne's grandfather, could be called up?
"My own son is now almost 22 years old and when I try to imagine what it would be like to see him go off to the trenches it's almost too painful to imagine," she says.	"My own son is now almost 22 years old and when I try to imagine what it would be like to see him go off to the trenches it's almost too painful to imagine," she says.
Mike O'Brien, from Sidcup in Kent, says his mother-in-law Germaine Louise Wall, aged 91, was inspired to get out some memorabilia having watched a BBC programme about WW1.	Mike O'Brien, from Sidcup in Kent, says his mother-in-law Germaine Louise Wall, aged 91, was inspired to get out some memorabilia having watched a BBC programme about WW1.
"She came downstairs with armfuls of stuff that had been in her bedroom 60-odd years," he says.	"She came downstairs with armfuls of stuff that had been in her bedroom 60-odd years," he says.
Germaine's father-in-law, John Wall, fought in the battle of Neuve Chapelle. He was wounded but his life was saved by the books and papers he had in his breast pocket. You can see the holes in the documents from the bullets or shrapnel from the battle.	Germaine's father-in-law, John Wall, fought in the battle of Neuve Chapelle. He was wounded but his life was saved by the books and papers he had in his breast pocket. You can see the holes in the documents from the bullets or shrapnel from the battle.
Along with John Wall's own documents was a paybook from another soldier, Stephen Albert Coates.	Along with John Wall's own documents was a paybook from another soldier, Stephen Albert Coates.
At the time, John believed Stephen Coates had been killed. However, after some research Mike knows he actually survived and was honourably discharged from the Army, living until the age of 83. Mike now wants to "close the circle" and give back the lifesaving passbook to the family.	At the time, John believed Stephen Coates had been killed. However, after some research Mike knows he actually survived and was honourably discharged from the Army, living until the age of 83. Mike now wants to "close the circle" and give back the lifesaving passbook to the family.
Andy Marshall in Fareham, Hampshire, uncovered a similar wealth of documents. A few years ago he began doing work on his family tree and discovered a folder that belonged to his wife's grandmother.	Andy Marshall in Fareham, Hampshire, uncovered a similar wealth of documents. A few years ago he began doing work on his family tree and discovered a folder that belonged to his wife's grandmother.
"Inside the folder the documents were all mixed up but as I started to piece it together I began to realise what I had," he says.	"Inside the folder the documents were all mixed up but as I started to piece it together I began to realise what I had," he says.
The items relate to his wife's great-uncle Robert Maurice Manns, who was in the Army Service Corps (ASC) and later joined the Suffolk Regiment.	The items relate to his wife's great-uncle Robert Maurice Manns, who was in the Army Service Corps (ASC) and later joined the Suffolk Regiment.
They include his photo and an ASC Christmas card to his parents, but also a letter from the Army pay office following his death in 1917 and a photo of his grave.	They include his photo and an ASC Christmas card to his parents, but also a letter from the Army pay office following his death in 1917 and a photo of his grave.
Andy says he was shocked when he discovered the letter and the document describing the location of Robert's war grave. He began to imagine what it must have been like for the family to receive these items at the time.	Andy says he was shocked when he discovered the letter and the document describing the location of Robert's war grave. He began to imagine what it must have been like for the family to receive these items at the time.
Jeremy Gordon-Smith discovered his great-great-uncle Ivan Bawtree was one of those employed to photograph war graves. He has recently been working on a project compiling the diaries, memoirs, various letters and numerous photos taken by Bawtree.	Jeremy Gordon-Smith discovered his great-great-uncle Ivan Bawtree was one of those employed to photograph war graves. He has recently been working on a project compiling the diaries, memoirs, various letters and numerous photos taken by Bawtree.
He discovered Ivan worked for Kodak and was headhunted in 1915 by Fabian Ware, founder of the then Graves Registration Commission.	He discovered Ivan worked for Kodak and was headhunted in 1915 by Fabian Ware, founder of the then Graves Registration Commission.
The organisation set about recording and caring for all the graves its staff could find. It received letters from relatives of soldiers who had been killed, asking for photographs of their graves. By April 1917 some 12,000 photographs had been sent to relatives.	The organisation set about recording and caring for all the graves its staff could find. It received letters from relatives of soldiers who had been killed, asking for photographs of their graves. By April 1917 some 12,000 photographs had been sent to relatives.
Many people have come forward with treasured mementos - from diaries, to letters and maps - of the bloody Western Front, including the battles of Ypres, Verdun and the Somme.	Many people have come forward with treasured mementos - from diaries, to letters and maps - of the bloody Western Front, including the battles of Ypres, Verdun and the Somme.
Ian Carman in Buckinghamshire discovered the hand-written diary of his great-uncle Jack Farrell while going through the possessions of his mother when she died four years ago. Farrell was a conscientious objector and was exempted from fighting on the grounds he was a paramedic.	Ian Carman in Buckinghamshire discovered the hand-written diary of his great-uncle Jack Farrell while going through the possessions of his mother when she died four years ago. Farrell was a conscientious objector and was exempted from fighting on the grounds he was a paramedic.
The diary begins in 1915 and covers a period of about six months. After arriving in northern France, Jack was detailed to build a hospital.	The diary begins in 1915 and covers a period of about six months. After arriving in northern France, Jack was detailed to build a hospital.
"What stands out is the futility of war," says Ian, who lives in Newport Pagnell. The hospital Jack was building was shelled, forcing him to rebuild.	"What stands out is the futility of war," says Ian, who lives in Newport Pagnell. The hospital Jack was building was shelled, forcing him to rebuild.
The description is to the point and powerful, as when he describes the events of Tuesday, 20 April. He calls it "the day of days", when the Germans were "shelling the town with 17-inch [shells]".	The description is to the point and powerful, as when he describes the events of Tuesday, 20 April. He calls it "the day of days", when the Germans were "shelling the town with 17-inch [shells]".
"We are evacuating into ward now ready - but just begun and news arrives of civilians being wounded and wounded begin to arrive on foot. They continue all through the day and night.	"We are evacuating into ward now ready - but just begun and news arrives of civilians being wounded and wounded begin to arrive on foot. They continue all through the day and night.
"About 30 outpatients are attended to and about 12 bed cases... 17-inch [shells] are falling at intervals of about quarter of an hour and small shells and shrapnel are falling continually."	"About 30 outpatients are attended to and about 12 bed cases... 17-inch [shells] are falling at intervals of about quarter of an hour and small shells and shrapnel are falling continually."
Richard Mellor's grandfather Edmund Mellor also served in the trenches but his memory of the time is preserved in a different way - in a spoken-word account of his experiences.	Richard Mellor's grandfather Edmund Mellor also served in the trenches but his memory of the time is preserved in a different way - in a spoken-word account of his experiences.
~~X X X - MELLOR AUDIO TO GO HERE~~
The recording was made by Richard's cousin Andrew Wadsworth, Edmund's grandson, in the late 1970s and stored on cassette tapes for many years.	The recording was made by Richard's cousin Andrew Wadsworth, Edmund's grandson, in the late 1970s and stored on cassette tapes for many years.
"It's fascinating hearing his stories told in his thick Oldham accent," says Richard, who lives in Blackburn.	"It's fascinating hearing his stories told in his thick Oldham accent," says Richard, who lives in Blackburn.
In one section, Edmund talks about the first time he saw "real action", on 31 July 1917. He goes "over the top" after mines are exploded under the German lines.	In one section, Edmund talks about the first time he saw "real action", on 31 July 1917. He goes "over the top" after mines are exploded under the German lines.
"They expected it to be without any trouble because they thought everything would have been blown to smithereens but it wasn't so," says Mellor. "They were ready for us with machine-guns and whatnot. But luckily, for me at any rate, I wasn't wounded in any way.	"They expected it to be without any trouble because they thought everything would have been blown to smithereens but it wasn't so," says Mellor. "They were ready for us with machine-guns and whatnot. But luckily, for me at any rate, I wasn't wounded in any way.
"Eventually I think we had to make our way back to our own lines that we had come from. That was typical of the First World War."	"Eventually I think we had to make our way back to our own lines that we had come from. That was typical of the First World War."
It is very likely that other people will have further information or material related to Edmund Mellor or the other people featured in this story, says Luke Smith.	It is very likely that other people will have further information or material related to Edmund Mellor or the other people featured in this story, says Luke Smith.
If you have documents from WW1 you wish to share, you can upload them yourself to the IWM's Lives of the First World War, adding to a "hall of memories" for the 21st Century.	If you have documents from WW1 you wish to share, you can upload them yourself to the IWM's Lives of the First World War, adding to a "hall of memories" for the 21st Century.
Find out how letters during WW1 reached the front line in only two days and discover unfamiliar stories about a war we think we know.	Find out how letters during WW1 reached the front line in only two days and discover unfamiliar stories about a war we think we know.