Oxford project discovers over 25,000 World War II artefacts and makes them accessible online

These are some of the strange and startling discoveries preserved by an Oxford University project that has digitised over 25,000 previously hidden artefacts from the Second World War. The archive contains a remarkable range of stories and objects that capture both the extraordinary and everyday lives of those who experienced the war. Dr Stuart Lee, Project Director of Their Finest Hour, at the University of Oxford said: ‘Very few families in Britain and across the Commonwealth were untouched by the war. Those who could not attend a Digital Collection Day in person were able to submit stories and photos via the project website. In doing so, he and others have developed the Oxford Community Collection Model (OCCM), which has been tested not only in the United Kingdom but also across Europe.