‘AFTERMATH’ EXHIBITION – KOSB MUSEUM

Press Release
Aftermath of the Great War

An exhibition to highlight the social, political, health and economic issues that arose post WW1 for ex-service personnel from all the services, will be launched at the King’s Own Scottish Borderers’ Regimental Museum on Saturday 31st March, 2018. The 1918 General Election was called immediately after the Armistice. During the election campaign the Liberal politician David Lloyd George promised a ‘land fit for heroes’ for the men and women who had gone off to war and faithfully served their country. However, the reality was that the campaign slogan was no more than political rhetoric. From 1920 until 1937 poverty, homelessness and unemployment dominated the political discourse. Unemployment rose to three million and many ex-servicemen and their families were forced into emigration by absolute poverty.

The Aftermath exhibition was constructed from official and unofficial documents, hardship letters and financial assistance applications from ex-servicemen.The exhibition highlights the tragic plight of ex-servicemen, war disabled ex-servicemen, and their families in post war Britain. The following is taken from a financial assistance application.

‘This man was a private in the Machine gun Corps. He has a wife and three children. They are in arrears with their rent. They receive a pint and a half of milk per day and a half a stone of meal every two weeks from the Board of Health. His wife and children are in rags and have no boots or shoes, and several articles of bed clothing are in the
Pawn.’