In October 2021, Imperial War Museums (IWM) London opened its new Second World War and The Holocaust Galleries. As the Second World War and the Holocaust pass out of living memory, IWM is bringing unseen objects, untold stories and unheard voices together. Alongside the opening of new galleries IWM is working with eight cultural heritage partners across the UK, of which we are one, to engage with new audiences and share hidden or lesser-known, local stories related to these histories. You can read about the work we are doing on as part of the Second World War and Holocaust Partnership Project here.

Through this project we have participated in One Story, Many Voices. This digital installation project brought us together in 2021 with writer Mercades Kemp of Wildworks. She collaborated with volunteers from the museum and also Bodmin Keep to create a story that was read by Ed Rowe.

“Fishermen’s Mission tells of the ways two Celtic seafaring nations came together in a common endeavour.  The contemporary accounts read, including the celebration of Bastille Day in Newlyn and Penzance, spoke of friendship and solidarity, and also of outrageous courage. A humbling tale that might resonate with contemporary issues.”

This story was captured by binaural sound recording provided by StoryFutures Academy (UK’s National Centre For Immersive Storytelling, run by the National Film and Television School and Royal Holloway University of London).

This story and those created by our partners are currently presented in the museum through a touring display. The sound piece will be in the museum from Saturday 19 March to Monday 18 April

Heading Image: 2003.8488.37 copyright Estate Frank Grattan