World War I exhibition examines Muslim contribution to the war effort

THE untold stories of more than 400,000 Muslim soldiers in World War I have been brought to life at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

The exhibition is part of the Connected Histories: Muslims in the First World War project which aims to highlight the Muslim contribution to the war effort. For example, Muslims contributed to nearly a third of the British Indian Army’s efforts.

The project explores the connection between some of Birmingham’s present-day Muslim communities and those who fought for Britain in the First World War, sometimes under complex and difficult conditions, when they themselves were not wholly free men or women.

The team behind the project has identified descendants living in Birmingham, recording stories of ancestors who served, were injured or who were killed. From this research the exhibition was developed. It features personal stories and loans of objects and artefacts from relatives of those who served.

Project Manager Izzy Mohammed said: “Within respective communities and across wider society, there is varied if limited understanding of British Empire and Commonwealth support of Britain during the First World War. 

“The numbers were a revelation. But so too were the stories that families held. Exploring this further, we came to understand how important it was to make these available to people, along with whatever artefacts and objects we could find.”

The exhibition will be open at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery until March 5, 2017, and can also be accessed via the Connected Histories website. 

“We believe that the exhibition and website will help to us to think a differently about our national story.” Izzy added.