MORE than 250 items from the First World War - ranging from rare treasures to everyday things from the kitchen drawer - were brought to Bradford for a special roadshow.

City Hall was packed as people brought documents, objects and family stories to the Lest We Forget roadshow staged jointly by the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation and Oxford University, funded by the National Lottery.

Teams of volunteers from the Bradford district were kept busy for over four hours, writing up dozens of poignant family stories and recording details of over 250 objects. The aim of the roadshow was to create a digital archive of First World War memorabilia, and almost 2,500 digital images were made from the Bradford event.

Last Saturday's event was opened by Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Zafar Ali who praised the way people from across the district had been drawn together to share remembrance during the four years of First World War centenary events.

Displays by the Bradford WW1 Group lined the corridor to the Banqueting Chamber and a scrolling powerpoint illustrated the role of the Army from undivided India and the losses they suffered.

Bradford-born Elizabeth Smith, Public Engagement Officer for CWGC in the north was the event organiser. She described the overwhelming response of local people as "Yorkshire brilliance in all areas".

Tricia Restorick, president of Bradford World War One Group, added: "From the hard work and enthusiasm of City Hall staff and volunteers to the patience of everyone in the long queues that formed, Bradford was at its best.

"Visitors came from far and wide. John White from Liverpool, an old boy of St Bede’s, commented on the resounding success of an impressive day. Margaret Harley came from Barnard Castle with photographs and documents relating to her father who served with the Ilkley Artillery Battery throughout the war. She was delighted that treasured family memories were received with such enthusiasm and empathy.

"Objects brought in ranged from the extremely rare to the poignant. Rare items included an original 1920s cast iron sign from Lonsdale Cemetery on the Somme which was replaced when ‘Imperial War Graves Commission’ gave way to CWGC, and a “splash” guard worn by men operating early tanks to protect their faces from shards of metal flying around their cramped quarters.

"An officer’s compass, along with documents and miniature versions of his medals including the Military Cross and a Princess Mary box with the two medals awarded to George Mason of Keighley were among the dozens of much treasured family objects."

Dr Stuart Lee, Deputy CIO of IT Services at Oxford said: ‘Lest We Forget began as an idea in 2017. We want to record those stories, objects and memories from the First World War that survive - not in museum collections or history books but in the hearts and homes of the very many families and individuals affected."

In due course images and stories from Bradford will be uploaded to the Lest We Forget website, lwf.web.ox.ac.uk