University to honour historian with First World War Study Day

The latest episode in the University of Wolverhampton’s highly successful series of study days on the First World War will honour the memory of Professor Keith Jeffery, a notable WW1 historian who died earlier this year.

The event, which is being organised by the First World War Research Group in the Faculty of Social Sciences (FOSS) will be held in the lecture theatre (room MC001) situated in the MC Building, City Campus, on Saturday 28 May 2016.

Titled ‘1916: The World at War’, the day is focused on the history of the First World War throughout the middle year of the conflict.

Speakers for the event include Claire Jones and Dr Paul Henderson from the University of Wolverhampton, Dr Tim Bowman from the University of Kent, and Dr Stuart Mitchell from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

On the programme will be lectures focussing on topics such as ‘Remembering 1916 in the Black Country’, ‘East Africa in 1916’, ‘South America in 1916’, and ‘Ireland in 1916’, which reflect the expertise of Professor Keith Jeffery.

Keith Jeffery (1952-2016) of Queen’s University in Belfast, was a historian of Ireland and the British Empire and was chosen in 2004 to write the first official history of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6.

The study day is set to honour his contribution to history, as well as remember a close friend and colleague.

Professor Gary Sheffield of the First World War Research Group said: “The University series of days on the First World War have been running since 2013, but this is the first we have devoted to the memory of an individual.

“Keith Jeffery was an outstanding historian who died far too soon, and we decided that we wanted to celebrate his work, so in this study day we build on the theme of his last book, on 1916 as a global war.”

Tickets for the event are at a cost of £20 per head, which includes refreshments.

Places will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and can be booked by either emailing Sue Holden via: Sue.Holden@wlv.ac.uk

ENDS

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Date Issued: Monday 16 May 2016