Legasee Educational Trust is a charity who’s constitution is to record, preserve and share the personal stories of Britain’s Armed Forces veterans.
Since 2012, we have filmed hundreds of male and female veterans talking about their military service in their own words. Our archive now contains more than 700 interviews and over 1,200 hours of testimony, covering conflicts and experiences from the Second World War to Afghanistan.
Recording these stories is only part of what we do. We want people to see and hear them too. Through podcasts, exhibitions, films, education projects and partnerships, we bring these first-hand accounts to new audiences, particularly young people.
At the heart of Legasee is the belief that there is no substitute for seeing history through the eyes of the people who made it.
The starting point for all of our work is the veteran, so we give them the time and space to tell their story properly, often recording experiences that have never previously been documented. Those interviews are then preserved so that their voices, memories and experiences are never lost.
We also work with museums, veterans’ organisations, schools and other partners to make those stories accessible and relevant to a wider audience.
Recent projects have included recording the experiences of women who served with the Women’s Royal Army Corps and our current project documenting the Aden Emergency, an important chapter of post-war British military history that is in danger of disappearing from living memory.
For us, supporting the Armed Forces Community also means ensuring that what veterans experienced and contributed, continues to be understood long after the interview itself.
The trust that veterans place in us.
Some of the people we interview have told their stories before. Others have barely spoken about their experiences at all. Regardless, sitting opposite someone and being entrusted with their memories is something we never take for granted.
We are also proud that, after 14 years of interviewing veterans, we are now able to pass some of what we have learned on to a younger generation. Through Local Heroes, young people become the interviewers, learning how to listen, ask questions and record the stories of remarkable people within their own communities.
There is something very satisfying about that. Legasee began by giving veterans the opportunity to tell their stories. We are now helping young people develop the confidence and curiosity to go out and find stories for themselves.
Legasee is a specialist charity, and much of what we achieve comes through the relationships we have built across the Armed Forces Community.
Being part of Cobseo helps us stay connected to that wider network. It gives us a better understanding of what other organisations are doing, where our work might complement theirs and, importantly, where there are opportunities to collaborate rather than duplicate effort.
It also helps us reach veterans and organisations we might not otherwise encounter. Oral history depends upon trust and introductions, and being part of an established network really matters.
Ultimately, Cobseo reminds us that although individual member organisations may have very different roles, we are all working in different ways to recognise, support and celebrate the Armed Forces Community.
Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here