The human cost of war explored in new exhibition
A Debt Beyond Words tells personal stories of bravery, love and loss through items from the Durham Light Infantry archive and beyond
A new exhibition exploring the human cost of war has opened at The Story, shining a light on how conflict has shaped lives and communities across County Durham.
A Debt Beyond Words focuses on the experiences of people connected to the Durham Light Infantry while also examining the wider impact of war on families, friendships and life on the home front.
Running until January 2027, the exhibition brings together objects, documents and photographs drawn from The Story’s own collections as well as loans from Ben Uri Gallery and Museum, Kirkleatham Museum and Beamish, The Living Museum of the North.
Rather than focusing solely on battlefield history, the exhibition centres the personal stories behind conflict - from acts of bravery to romance, resilience and devastating loss.
Among the items on display is a partially exploded German artillery shell collected by the 4th Battalion DLI after a submarine bombardment at Seaham Harbour in 1916, a wedding dress made from parachute silk and worn by RAF officer Mary Dawson in 1943, and artworks depicting the Nuremberg Trials by official war artist Dame Laura Knight.
Visitors can also see the notebook of Alice Sharp, whose entries document her husband’s military service from enlistment to his death in the First World War.
Councillor Karen Allison said: “War is more than a series of military conflicts in distant lands; its impact extends into the very heart of our communities.
“In this exhibition, we have set out to show how war has shaped the people and landscapes of County Durham.
“It’s about telling the stories of everyday people, from shining a light on extraordinary acts of bravery to delving into the romances that blossomed, the friendships forged and the losses that devastated so many families.”
The exhibition is free to visit. For more information, visit The Story website.