The National Archives Open Day 2004

War time poster

Operation Archives: D-Day to VE Day at The National Archives

Saturday 18 September 10:00 - 16:00

A D-Day inspired Open Day at The National Archives in Kew with events to suit all ages. Discover original documents, film, dance, food, music, and clothes from the 1940s. And meet the real heroes, D-Day veterans from the Royal Star and Garter Home in Richmond.

Programme - All day

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Family trail

• D-Day Diary Follow the family trail and discover documents about deception, decoys and defences

Family history

• Talk to experts from the Family Records Centre about tracing your own family history
• The Federation of Family History Societies, Society of Genealogists and Hyde Park Family History Centre will be here to offer advice and answer your questions

Tours and Demonstrations

• Behind the scenes tours Go behind the scenes at Britain's biggest archive and witness the building in operation
• Reading room tours Discover how to use the archive and look at a display of documents relating to the local area during the war years
• Preservation See our experts at work, have a go at making your own ration book style notebook and see a collection of photographs from the period
• Online archives Let our experts guide you through The new National Archives website and some of our other online resources such as Documents Online, Moving Here, the Catalogue, A2A and 1901 Census. Experts from the Historical Manuscripts Commission will be available to offer advice on finding records held elsewhere

Timetabled Events

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10:30-11:15 and 13:30-14:15
Snapshots of D-Day

Learn about the use of photographs in the planning for D-Day as Allan Williams, Head of the Aerial Reconnaissance Archives (TARA) at Keele University, demonstrates the new online resource of over 5 million aerial images, www.evidenceincamera.co.uk.

10:30-11:15, 12:45-13:30 and 15:00-15:45
No time to say goodbye

Hear what family life was like as a child in the war as storyteller Pamela Marre weaves history, folk tales and real life stories.

10:30-11:15, 12:45-13:30 and 14:45-15:30
The Kitchen Front

Sample the delights of the wartime kitchen and Forties food with Monica Askay.

10:30-11:15, 12:30-13:15 and 14:30-15:15
Make up and make-do

What was it like to experience life on the Home Front during WWII? Come along and help us put out Firebomb Fritz or try on a gas mask. Find out how to make-do-and-mend when it's time to celebrate and do the Lambeth Walk. Hands-on activities, costume, original artefacts and plenty of fun with Kate Hargreaves of Gunnersbury Park Museum.

11:00-11:45, 12:45-13:30 and 14:15-15:00
Captain Llewelyn

Put your best foot forward as costumed performer Captain Llewelyn puts you through your paces in the Home Guard.

11:30-12:15 and 15:30-16:15
Saturday Cinema

Join our cinema usherette for a taste of wartime propaganda films. Short and entertaining, these films show the different ways people were asked to support the war effort.

11:30-12:15 and 13:45-14:30
Meet the veterans

Meet the real heroes – D-Day veterans from the Royal Star and Garter Home in Richmond will talk about their experiences and answer audience questions.

11:30-12:00, 12:30-13:00, 14:30-15:00 and 15:30-16:00
Double Agent Codename Garbo

Join our actor who takes up the story of a Double Agent, Codename Garbo, and learn about the key part that deception played in the plans for D-Day.

11:30-12:15, 13:30-14:15 and 15:30-16:15
Design a Poster

Pick up a pencil and draw your own poster with artist Karly Allen.

12:00-12:45, 13:30-14:15 and 15:15-16:00
Sugar Foot Stompers

Step out with the Sugar Foot Stompers and learn the steps of forties swing dance.

12:30-13:15 and 14:30-15:15
Film for D-Day

See what it was really like as Toby Haggith, film historian at the Imperial War Museum, introduces film of the Normandy invasions, newsreel and unedited footage plus film about the Home Front.

Plus

Café and refreshments
Bookshop

More information

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Operation Archives is FREE and there is no need to book in advance. Places are limited for some activities so we advise you to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Many of these events will be ticketed. Please obtain your tickets from the Open Day reception desk in the entrance area on the day.

For further information contact: +44 (0) 20 8392 5202 or email events@nationalarchives.gov.uk

Please note that there is limited parking on site.

Operation Archives: D-Day to VE Day at The National Archives is part of Archive Awareness Campaign and Open House London weekend.