Pe, our Italian EVS receiving a copy of the War Circus Book with other project researchers.
The War Circus Book was Launched on 15th March 2017 at Mansion House, Newcastle upon Tyne. It was an event which was both poignant and respectfully witty bringing people to gather to mark the end of a years research. More importantly for us the launch helped to highlight the lives of people 100 years ago who were caught up in the tumultuous events of the First World War.
War Circus is one of the more extraordinary stories of the Great War. It is an exceptionally well-researched book and is full of fascinating detail. To say I learnt something new about this unusual war story would be an understatement. Richard van Emden, January 2017 ( WW1 Historian)
The publication is non-commercial and as such includes many photos from various institutions and individuals, to whom we are very grateful. They include: the University of Sheffield via the National Fairground and Circus Archives, Tyne and Wear Archives ( Arthur Fenwick Collection) , Imperial War Museum, Library of Congress, The Worlds Fair Newspaper as well as other photos kindly shared by family members.
Present were the members of the circus community (who’s family members) lives are recollected in the book, friends, Circus Central community of artists, researchers and management and partners, lead by Helen Averley and representatives of Archives who’s collections we were able to access during the research, members of the Pen and Palette Club and Community Foundation (who both supported the project and launch). A presentation was made by brothers Ron Beadle and David Konyot drawing upon the research and Kerrin Tatman and Rosie Bristow played a piece of music by Grock who features in the book.
The book will be deposited across the world in Libraries and Archives and with contributors to the research. A few copies will be made available to The Worlds Fair readers and King Pole readers. Otherwise the War Circus book is available online as a PDF on this website and all information is available in various articles in the War Circus page also on this website.
We would like to express our gratitude to the HLF for supporting this project. With out their funding support this project would not have happened.
It seems fitting to also remember some of the circus community who died who’s stories we encountered in our research.
WAR CIRCUS DEATHS 1914-1919
BALE, Arthur percy
BLUMENFELD, ALEX
BOSTOCK, ALEXANDER Gordon
CLOWES, GEORGE
CINQUEVALLI, PAUL
COOK, J.A.
COOKE, HUBERT
CRAGG, (Several BROTHERS)
DOLMAN, WILLIAM
FOSSETT, John
HALL, TOMMY
HANNA, ROBERT
HOLLOWAY, Frederick
JAMESON, F.M.
KEMPSTER, FREDERICK
KIDSON, J.H.
LLOYD, CYRIL
LUALE, CHIEF
OHMY (SMITH), Ada
SYLVESTER, OTTO
TAYLOR, DJ
WOOD, GEORGE
WHITELEY, J
WHITELEY, W
WRIGLEY, H.C.
YELDING, HARRY
& THE MANY MORE WHO ARE NOT KNOWN TO US.
