Ali Bullivent, Wakefield Cathedral’s Education Officer, recently came across a photograph of her grandfather, Private Thomas Bullivent in the First World War serving in Egypt.
This inspired a new digital exhibition called Thank You For Your Sacrifice which aims to do just that by creating a visual memory bank of photographs from anyone with ancestors who served in the First World War alongside a living family member as part of the Cathedral’s four year commemorations to mark the WW1 centenary.
But they need your help! Wakefield Cathedral wants your images – both of you and of your WW1 relative, to begin to build up this new digital exhibition. It will first be displayed on the TV monitors inside the Cathedral over Heritage Weekend September 12 to 14 and at other times over the next four years.
Said Ali: “I remember looking at this photo of my granddad and just thinking of the enormity of what he had done and I just wanted to say thank you so much. He left behind his family and farm in a tiny village in Nottinghamshire and travelled halfway round the world to fight for what he believed in. Whatever the rights or wrongs of war may be, I realised that life could have been very different for us all today without the sacrifice of the many young men who went off to fight for us. I honour their memory.”
To take part please send us a photograph of your ancestor (or family memorabilia) plus relevant details e.g. name, rank & regiment, along with a photograph of yourself / family plus details of your relationship to them.
Photos and information can be sent digitally to admin@wakefield-cathedral.org.uk, marked in the subject box: ‘Thank you for your sacrifice’. Please remember to include your contact details.
Or alternatively, come to the cathedral, either to be photographed or to bring in your photo and/or any memorabilia to be photographed or scanned – EVERY Sunday between 10.45 and 11.45am from now until the end of August.