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Tell Them of Us

~ A film about a Lincolnshire family during the First World War

Tell Them of Us

Tag Archives: First World War film

Showing of Tell Them of Us, The National Archives, London

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

Posted by Pauline Loven in Uncategorized

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2nd Lieutenant William Harrison Crowder, Adam Fox, Centenary Stitches, First World War film, Knitting, knitting for WW1, Nick loven Director, Tell Them of Us, The National Archives, Thimbleby, Victoria Rigby, WW1

There will be a special showing of ‘Tell Them of us’ and William’s Story’ at The National Archives, Kew on Friday 15th January 2016.  The films will be screened back-to-back, followed by a panel discussion featuring the director (Nick Loven), cast members and a direct descendant of the Crowder family. Further screenings will be held throughout February and March. Check online for details.

Nick Loven on location filming in 'no-man's-land' for William's Story. Photo (c) Stewart Wall.

Nick Loven on location filming in ‘no-man’s-land’ for William’s Story. Photo (c) Stewart Wall.

The National Archives are also hosting the Centenary Stitches exhibition This display of clothing from the film tells the story of how an international army of knitters was created almost by accident, not only to help costume the film, but also to reveal the extraordinary range of knitted items produced back home for men in the trenches.

21st March 1918 The Spring Offensive

21 Saturday Mar 2015

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1918 Spring Offensive, 2nd Lieutenant William Harrison Crowder, 51st Division, 51st Highland Division, Adam Fox, Bombardier Baillie, First World War, First World War film, German Spring Offensive, Great War, Horncastle, Kaiserschlach

Today, March the 21st, is the 97th anniversary of the most critical twenty four hours in William Crowder’s life as he is caught up in the German Spring Offensive, Kaiserschlacht. Follow our Kickstarter campaign for updates.

Adam Fox as William Crowder

Adam Fox as William Crowder

Part One: The Battle Commences

Part Two: 21st March 1918, Spring Offensive begins

Part Three: 21st March 1918, Spring Offensive

Part Four: 21st March 1918 ‘They’re Coming over in Their Thousands’

The Kickstarter campaign is to create a drama-documentary of William’s story. Please donate to help us tell this story – we have more than half the target sum so we might make it!

William’s Story – Spring 1918

06 Friday Mar 2015

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2nd Lieutenant William Harrison Crowder, 51st Highland Division, Adam Fox, Baillie family history, Bombardier Baillie, First World War, First World War film, Great War, Indie Filmmakers, Kaiserschlacht, Nick Loven, Spring Offensive 1918, Tell Them of Us

Our 2014 WWI film ‘Tell Them of Us’, is the true story of one Lincolnshire family, made to commemorate the outbreak of WWI. Their story was told from the home front and the perspective of those left behind. It is now available on DVD.

One story remained untold however; what happened to William Crowder at the front which resulted in him receiving the Distinguished Service Order. The DSO was awarded to an officer for acts of gallantry under attack; so what exactly happened to William? Fortunately we have an account of his experience of the Kaiserschlacht and it is one of the most arresting and visually compelling WWI narratives I have read.

We are planning a documentary with some dramatised scenes. William was attached to the 51st Highland Division and his three telephonists were all Scottish. We are still casting for these roles – especially that of Bombardier Baillie below.

Here is the link to the crowdfunding campaign, William’s Story – please help support us if you can.

William Crowder’s WWI Story

09 Friday Jan 2015

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Adam Fox, Crowder, First World War, First World War film, Great War, Indie film, Tell Them of Us, WWI drama-documentary

Our 2014 WWI film “Tell Them of Us”, is the true story of one Lincolnshire family, made to commemorate the outbreak of WWI.

One story remained untold however; what happened to William Crowder at the front which resulted in him receiving the Distinguished Service Order. The DSO was awarded to an officer for acts of gallantry under attack; so what exactly happened to William? Fortunately we have an account and it is one of the most arresting and visually compelling of any narrative I have read.

We plan to make a documentary of William’s story and hope to raise enough money to dramatise the events that resulted in him receiving the DSO. Recreating these events will be extraordinary, but costly. So we will be launching a new Kickstarter fundraiser soon and we are looking into other fundraising options as well. The more we can raise the more we can do!

William Crowder played by Adam Fox. Graphic design Judith Brodnicki.

William Crowder played by Adam Fox. Graphic design Judith Brodnicki.

‘Tell Them of Us’, WW1 Film, is now available on DVD.

17 Wednesday Dec 2014

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Adam Fox, Chris Gordon, Crowders, First World War, First World War film, Great War, Nick Loven, Reece Ackerman, Tell Them of Us, Tell Them of Us DVD, Victoria Rigby, WW1 Film

WAG Screen now has a shop where you can purchase our WWI film, Tell Them of Us, set in the homefront in Lincolnshire. Follow this link for the shop.

TToU PAL_edited-2

 

TToU PAL_edited-1

‘Tell Them of Us’ WW1 Film Trailer

05 Sunday Oct 2014

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Crowders, First World War, First World War film, Tell Them of Us, Thimbleby, WW1, WW1 Film

Tell Them of Us – teaser trailer from Nick Loven on Vimeo.

Last Minute!

30 Tuesday Sep 2014

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First World War, First World War film, Horncastle News, Tell Them of Us, Thimbleby, Walter Barlow, WW1, WW1 Film

Just as we were about to film Thimbleby village celebrating the moment of the Armistice, with all cast in place and costuming done, our researcher chanced upon an article in a 1917 edition of the Horncastle News about Walter Barlow. Walter was the son of John and Elizabeth Barlow, Thimbleby’s baker and shopkeeper. We knew that Walter had survived the war, and had taken over Robert Crowder’s role as Thimbleby church organist, but we knew little else. However, the newspaper article shed light on his story and caused a last minute flurry of casting.  Walter had been severely injured, spending months in hospital, and probably never returned to the front. So we quickly cast an actor to play Walter and borrowed vintage crutches from the Red Cross. You can just pick out Walter in the group scene below and beneath that a transcription of the Horncatle News article which includes a letter from Walter describing the battle in which he was injured.

Photo by David Wall. Armistice street scene, Thimbleby
Photo by Stewart Wall. Armistice street scene, Thimbleby

Article from Horncastle News, September 1917 :

Pte. W Barlow, Thimbleby

Pte. Walter Barlow, Lincolnshire Regiment, son of Mr Barlow, baker, Thimbleby, has been seriously injured in the left leg, and is now in Warrington Hospital. Prior to enlisting in March last year he worked for his father, and after training was sent to France, but returned soon after suffering from a bad knee. He returned to France in November, and had many exciting experiences, but none more than on April 28th, when he was wounded, and which he relates in the following letter: “We were given our orders to advance 1,000 yards, which meant we should have too take the village and 500 yards beyond that. Owing to the enemy’s heavy machine gun fire we were to make little progress, only getting three hundred yards, when we had to dig ourselves in. We had had this position about three hours when the enemy counter attacked us heavily, and managed to surround us. They took quite a lot of our men prisoners. I tried, like a lot of our boys, to get back to our lines. I ran like a hare, but not too far, for a bullet hit me in the leg, soon steadying me, and I was obliged to drop. By this time the Boches had got up to me. They said, in fairly good English ‘Would I surrender’. I knew if I did not say ‘Yes’, they would kill me, so then they told me to go to the village they had occupied. I said I would, but soon found that I couldn’t as it was too much for me as I was quite helpless in my leg. I managed, after a struggle, in rolling into a shell hole, and when I saw any Boches coming past me I lay as though I was dead, for I quite expected they would finish me off all together if they saw I couldn’t walk. So I lay in that shell hole for 12 hours, I was hit at 10 o’clock in the morning and it was ten at night before I dare make any attempt to get back to our lines. I really don’t know how I managed to get back, for shells were bursting all around me, independent of me being unable to walk. Anyhow, I made my mind up to try and get back somehow. It took me nearly two hours trying to get out of that shell hole. After strenuous efforts I managed to succeed, but, oh, what a job, for the pain it caused me was awful. I really thought I would have to give it up as a bad job, then something in me said “Try again”, and so I tried and, thank god, I did it. How long it took me in getting back to our trenches I don’t know, but it must have taken me a long while for I had to trail myself on my body and right leg for 300 yards. When at last I did manage to draw the attention of some stretcher bearers who were about they soon had me on a stretcher down to the dressing station.I shall never forget what I went through that day, 28th April. 

Tell Them of Us

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WW1 Drama Documentary

All the proceeds from our DVD sales go towards the making of the follow-up drama documentary; 'William's Story.

Help Our Project

  • Our DVD Shop Buy our DVDs
  • Our Kickstarter Campaign Tell Them Of Us – William’s Story Kickstarter campaign

Links

  • Adam Fox – Actor
  • Barkston Refinishing
  • Bishop Grosseteste University
  • Centenary Stitches
  • Chris Gordon – composer/musician
  • Clarksons of Edinburgh
  • Community Grant Scheme
  • Crow's Eye Costume Department
  • Crow's Eye Productions
  • Crowders Nurseries, Horncastle
  • Estuary TV
  • Evan Cornish Grassroots Fund
  • Hyrne Family Letters 1699-1757 Between Lincolnshire and South carolina
  • Judith Brodnicki – graphic designer
  • Lincoln School of Speech and Drama
  • Lincolnshire Community Foundation
  • Lucy Gordon – Artist
  • Nick Loven – Director
  • Northern Lace
  • Save Thimbleby Church
  • University of Lincoln
  • Victoria Rigby
  • WAG SCreen

Locations

  • Baumber Park B&B
  • Stanhope Hall
  • The Kinema
  • Thimbleby Church
  • Thimbleby, Lincolnshire

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