Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Author joins youngsters for war centenary event
AWARD-winning author Sir Michael Morpurgo met youngsters in St Andrews as part of a series of events marking the centenary of the end of the First World War.
St Andrews University welcomed Sir Michael – whose work includes War Horse, Private Peaceful and The Butterfly Lion – as part of The Home Front: The United Kingdom 1914-1918, a conference that runs until tomorrow.
The university is featuring exhibitions, films, music and public lectures devoted to the mobilisation of British society as a whole, an achievement that had a major role in winning the war.
Sir Michael said: “Projects such as The Home Front are so important to help us all remember because so few, and fewer every day, remember the First World War.
“There may be stories of greatgrandparents or people from our villages and towns, but we did not and cannot know them. All we can do is remember them through stories, music, art, literature and dance.
“The trouble is all those who went to that war and those who died are now unknown.
“We have to find a way to tell their stories so the significance of what they did can be remembered.
“Above all, we have to remember they were individuals, mostly young men, sons, brothers, fathers who lived and died. They are part of who we are.”
Hosting the conference is historian Professor Sir Hew Strachan.
Sir Hew said: “I am delighted Michael Morpurgo has found time to come to St Andrews to support our week-long programme of events to mark the First World War Centenary on the Home Front.
More information can be found at the website britishhomefront.co.uk.