Forest Forge Theatre Company is searching for the hidden histories of foreign troops who volunteered to fight alongside us in WWI.
Did a brave member of your family come to Hampshire to fight for King and Country during the First World War? Did they return to their homeland after the war or did they stay to forge a new life in a new country? Did your village or town see an influx of foreign fighters?
Although it is not widely known, the First World War saw a wave of foreign subjects from around the British Empire - including Nepalese, Indians and Canadians - arrive in Hampshire, volunteering to fight for the British Army alongside local recruits and Forest Forge wants to hear their hidden stories.
As part of its Battle Lines project, Forest Forge wants to discover the untold histories of these foreign soldiers, about their experiences settling in a new culture and fighting on foreign soil, as well as the impact of their arrival on local communities.
Forest Forge’s Battle Lines project is an in-depth look into Hampshire’s experience of war, through World Wars I and II through to modern day warfare. The company is working with local venues - The Spring in Havant, Forest Arts in New Milton, The Lights in Andover and students from Winchester University - to gather the real stories of life in the county during wartime, from those who went off to fight, those who stayed behind and those who came here from abroad, which will then be used in the creation of a trio of short plays that will tour the county in March and April.
A central aspect of the Battle Lines project is uncovering stories that have not been told before. Through one-to-one interviews, workshops and events in schools, museums and its partner venues and work with archive specialists and historians, the company hopes to shed new light on the real impact of war on individuals and communities.
Kirstie Davis, Forest Forge’s Director says of the project: “We are very excited about the possibility of uncovering untold stories and bringing them to life through the medium of theatre. It is an important aspect of our history that has been largely ignored and we want to redress that.â€
To share your story, please contact Jemma Corbin at Forest Forge Theatre Company, on 01425 470 188 or email jemma@forestforge.co.uk