Foundlings at War: Through the Ages

Foundlings at War is a major research project examining the Foundling Hospital’s historic links with the military.

The Foundling Hospital was designed to prevent waste of life and create ‘useful’ citizens, and between the eighteenth and twentieth centuries many Foundling boys went directly from the institution into the armed forces.

The final display in the series takes an overarching look at the Hospital’s relationship with the military, highlighting the stories of boys who served through the ages. From the eighteenth to the twentieth century, foundling boys served across the globe, in conflicts including the Boer War, the Crimean War and the two World Wars. Showing archival documents, photographs and medals not seen before by the public, this display tells their stories.

An iBook has been produced to accompany the project, taking an in-depth look at the role of foundlings in the armed forces, with new chapters published to coincide with each display. This book is available for FREE download with the iBooks app on your Mac or iPad, and with iTunes on your computer.