THE National Library of Wales is to lead a £1 million project to reveal the hidden history of the First World War and howit affected Welsh life, ahead of the centenary of the conflict.

Under the project manuscripts, photographs, moving images and audio will be digitised, including newspapers, diaries, journals and letters.

Much of the content is fragile, difficult to access and dispersed around institutions in Wales.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Between 2014 and 2018 there will be commemorative ceremonies in Wales and farther afield to pay tribute to the service men and women and civilians who lost their lives during the First World War.

“We must ensure that the stories of our grandparents and great-grandparents are made available through digital resources for future generations to better understand and learn lessons from such a transformational event in our history.”

The Welsh Government is contributing funding for the scheme.