Lifespan of the project

May 2002	Original idea conceived by Chris Warren, then executive editor at BBC Interactive Factual and Learning.
June 2002	Project feasibility, budget and resourcing scoped, staff recruited.
Nov 2002	Start of a six-month development project, using DSDM project management methodology.
June 2003	Beta version goes live.
Nov 2003	Official launch of the site and story gathering campaign at the Imperial War Museum, London.
June 2004	The 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings. Site publicity through TV trails.
June 2004	Image uploader goes live, giving contributors the ability to add images to their stories.
Sept 2004 - June 2005	Themed monthly lesson plans go live, aimed at teachers of Key Stages 1-3.
May 2005	The 60th anniversary of VE Day, with publicity for the site on TV trails, at live events, through the publication of a book ('The Day War Ended'), a Radio 4 programme called 'Coming Home' and many local radio broadcasts.
July 2005	Official public commemoration of the end of the war, with story gathering events around the country.
Aug 2005	The 60th anniversary of VJ Day.
Jan 2006	Site stops taking contributions in preparation for archiving.
March 2006	Archive site is launched. British Library agrees to host the archive in perpetuity.

Site statistics

Site statistics following the major anniversaries during the lifespan of the project:

Date	Anniversary/Event	Stories	Registered users
12 June 2004	60th of D-Day	7,541	12,916
8 May 2005	60th anniversary of VE Day	19,676	22,640
15 Aug 2005	60th anniversary of VJ Day	32,233	27,421
11 Nov 2005	Remembrance Day	39,118	29,992
31 Jan 2006	Site closure	47,376	32,174

The site was promoted on BBC TV, radio and interactive television - with in-programme and after programme announcements, interviews with contributors to the site, regional programmes about the project, features in local radio and television news. There were also interviews and announcements on the 'red button' service of the BBC, where digital viewers could access extra information and interviews about a programme, featured interviews with veterans and promotion for the project.

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