WWI commemoration & Remembrance events
November 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. The Armistice ending the conflict, which had lasted more than four years, was signed at 11am on 11 November 1918.
To mark this special anniversary, there will a number of WWI commemoration events taking place in addition to this year’s Remembrance events throughout October and November.
These will include a mixture of remembrance services, live theatre, screenings, talks an interactive trench experience at Chesterfield Museum and a poppy cascade at Chesterfield Town Hall featuring poppies knitted and crocheted by residents and friends of Chesterfield.
Displays and services
Wreath laying by the Mayor of Chesterfield
Mayor of Chesterfield, Councillor Stuart Brittain will be laying wreaths around the borough from Thursday 11 October to Sunday 11 November.
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Remembrance Service at the Crooked Spire – 11 November
Find information about this year’s Remembrance Service at the Crooked Spire (The Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints).
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Remembrance Service at St Thomas’ Church – 11 November
Find information about this year’s Remembrance Service at St Thomas’ Church, Brampton.
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Poppy display at the Crooked Spire
To commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the end of the Great War, an individual poppy has been knitted for each of the 1,574 service persons from the town that were killed during World War One. The display is available to view during the church’s opening hours.
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Town Hall Poppy Cascade
Chesterfield Town Hall will be decorated with a cascade of thousands of woollen poppies knitted and crocheted by local residents.
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Staveley Remembrance Parade and Service
A service organised by Staveley Town Council will take place at 11am on Remembrance Sunday, 11 November, at the Memorial Gardens, Staveley.
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Events
The Trench Experience – 12th October to 19th January
Chesterfield Museum is transforming a section of their art gallery into a recreated trench so you can experience the sights, sounds and smells of life in the trenches of WW1. Come along kids and enlist in the army. Take the oath and collect your helmet before heading into the trench. Meet ‘Tommy’ in his uniform and see what food he had in his kit bag. Find out what mustard gas smelled like and, if you’re brave, open the ‘latrine’ tin and see if you could stand the smell of going to the toilet in the trench
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World War One Commemoration Weekends – 20 October to 4 November
Commemorate the centenary of World War One at Barrow Hill Roundhouse with the special pop-up exhibition ‘Derbyshire Lives Through the First World War’.
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The Veterans Hubs – 26 October
This event is a one-stop shop event for armed forces personnel and spouses. At the event there is both information and support available over a range of matters from re-employment, volunteering, housing, health and well being, funding and representation from the forces welfare charities.
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‘1918: The Bloody Road to Victory’ – 11 November
Join this special talk at Chesterfield Museum & Art Gallery to discover the impact that the end of the First World War had on Chesterfield.
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Festival of Remembrance – 8 November
Visit the Winding Wheel for the Fellowship of the Services – Festival of Remembrance with the Long Eaton Silver Prize Band.
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Private Peaceful – 19 & 20 October
This one-man show performed by Andy Daniels relives the life of Private Tommo Peaceful, a young soldier awaiting the firing squad at dawn. During the night he looks back at his short but joyful past.
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An Afternoon of Remembrance – 31 October
An Afternoon of Remembrance at Staveley Hall will include poetry readings, a talk on World War I and with tea & scones for refreshments.
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Armistice Concert – 10 November
Join a host of musical entertainment at the Crooked Spire church for a special concert for the 100 year anniversary of the end of the First World War. Entry is free, with donations requested for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.
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Weapons of a WWI Infantryman – 1 November
Learn about the weaponry used and discover and handle the contents of a WWI infantryman’s kitbag at Chesterfield Museum and Art Gallery.
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World War One Exhibition at St Thomas’ Church – 3-30 November
A World War One exhibition at St. Thomas’ Church shows the stories of the men from Brampton who gave their lives during the war.
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‘So Long, Farewell – A Story of the Great War’ – 26 October
The story will be told in word and song with plenty of choruses to join in with. Experience the emotions of those at war and those left behind “A World War 1 production”, words and music by Linda Woodroffe.
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Market Beer Festival – 2 & 3 November
Join Chesterfield & District CAMRA for theirMarket Beer Festival in the heart of Chesterfield. This year dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the end of First World War, with all beers brewed in honour of local people who gave their lives.
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Films:
There will also be a series of films to commemorate 100 years since the end of WWI:
Oh! What a Lovely War – 5 November
It was the war to end all wars – well, not quite. For with the ricochet of one bullet, the entire course of human history was changed for ever… Oh! What A Lovely War follows the events of the First World War using popular songs of the time.
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All Quiet on The Western Front – 5 November
All Quiet on The Western Front follows a group of German schoolboys, talked into enlisting at the beginning of World War One by their impassioned school teacher. The story is told entirely through the experiences of the young German recruits and highlights the tragedy of war through the eyes of individuals.
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War Horse – 4 November
From director Steven Spielberg comes War Horse, an epic adventure for audiences of all ages. Set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War, War Horse begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him.
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