We are looking for volunteers to work with us on a research project exploring representations of the Zeebrugge Raid of 1918.
On St. George’s Day, 1918, British forces raided the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. The intention of the raid was to hamper severely the German ability to use the port as a submarine base. German submarine warfare was a great worry to the Allies who were desperate to ensure the safety of their vital maritime communication links. At the time, the raid was presented to the British people as a spectacular example of British character and genius. After the war the Zeebrugge raid continued to be celebrated. Veterans formed a specific association, many books and articles were written about it, a film was produced, a special presentation was prepared for the Wembley Empire Exhibition, and many thousands visited the actual site and the impressive memorial erected to mark the feat.
Gateways to the First World War is now launching a project to investigate the ways in which this famous event was presented to the British people using local and national newspapers and magazines as a source. We would like to recruit a team of volunteers to work with Professor Mark Connelly in exploring the stories relating to the raid.
If you’d like to find out more about the project, please come along to our launch event on Friday 11 May 2018 at the University of Kent.
Book your free place here.
Programme
10:00 - 10:30: Registration and welcome
10:30 - 10:45: An introduction to the project
10:45 - 11:15: Professor Mark Connelly, 'The Zeebrugge raid and its propaganda signifcance'
11:15 - 11:30: Short break
11:30 - 12:15: Professor Mark Connelly, 'Zeebrugge commemorated'
12:15 - 13:15: Lunch
13:15 - 13:30: Professor Mark Connelly, 'Newspapers in the 1920s and 1930s - their value as sources and ways of interpreting them'
13:30 - 14:00: The British Library digitized newspaper collection
14:00 - 14:15: Short break
14:15 - 15:00: Questions about the project; signing-up session
15:00: Event ends
Venue: Lecture Theatre 3, Grimond Building, University of Kent, CT2 7NZ.
For further information please contact gateways@kent.ac.uk.
The Zeebrugge Memorial
