A project to create a digital archive and interactive website detailing London Jewry's First World War contribution has received a £408,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

We Were There Too is being run by the London Jewish Cultural Centre, whose trustees' chair Michael Marx believes that the community's "very significant part" in the war effort "is often overshadowed by the Second World War and its terrible events.

"It is now a race against time to collect second generation stories of this period."

Lead strategic partner in the cross-communal enterprise is JLGB, more than 500 of whose members died in service. JLGB vice-president John Cooper said its participation would enable young people "to use digital technology to promote their heritage".

The intention is to reflect involvement both on the battlefield and on the home front from 1914-19. The site will have two distinct elements. As well as showcasing aspects of Jewish, military and general life via "history windows", it will personalise the period through individual stories. The project will rely heavily on volunteers.

Community engagement events will encourage contributions and project director Alan Fell expects eight to be held between June of this year and the end of 2017. They will include specialist advice for those who want to upload information about individuals. The website will be launched in May.

LJCC closed its Ivy House premises in Golders Green last year following the merger with the JW3 community centre. We Were There Too is one of three legacy ventures, the others being international education resource www.theholocaustexplained.org and Holocaust and Jewish studies education in places such as China and in Eastern Europe.