THEIR YEAR: The two University of Dundee academics co-founded the Great War Dundee Commemorative Project which played a major role in bringing together many different strands to co-ordinate a city-wide approach to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. A large programme of events and activities encouraged the broadest possible public interest, uncovering forgotten stories locally and contributing to the larger national and international picture. The GWDCP received the College of Arts and Social Sciences of the University of Dundee award for its work. Drs Kenefick and Patrick took part in a BBC public event at the Caird Hall featuring actor and keen history buff Larry Lamb and, with Napier University’s Professor Alistair McCleery, made up a team of academic advisers to the BBC’s World War One at Home project. PANEL VIEW: Every family has a story from its past about the First World War and the work of Billy Kenefick and Derek Patrick helped to bring those stories home, not only to those whose forebears were directly involved in the conflict, but also to a new generation who learned about the first-hand, human cost of what was supposed to be “the war to end all wars.” Their work showed us that history is still our story.
