The Melksham Remembers volunteers are gearing up for the project’s exhibition taking place at Melksham Town Hall this weekend on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th November.
At the exhibition they will be sharing what they have learned about life in the Melksham community area during the First World War. As previously previewed in the Melksham News, volunteers have gathered information about how wounded soldiers were looked after in the town, the effort by the community to send food parcels to prisoners of war, and the royal visit of King George V and Queen Mary to the town.
Another topic the volunteers have uncovered is the what it was like to be at school during the war. Project coordinator, Beth Thomas says, “One of our volunteers has enjoyed researching the school log books held in the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre. Every school was required to keep a log book, and many give interesting glimpses into school life at that time. There were frequent bouts of illness and the whole school could close for several days. If the weather was bad, children wouldn’t be able to walk to school and the county dentist would visit regularly in the days before the National Health Service.
“Children were also very active in supporting the war effort. Come along to the Melksham Remembers Exhibition at Melksham Town Hall on Saturday 10th November from 12–4pm or Sunday 11th November 10am–2pm and find out what they did and how they were given time off school to do it! On Saturday Wiltshire Scrapstore will be on hand from 12–3pm with First World War-themed crafts for children.
“Why not drop in before or after the town’s Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial at 11am on Sunday 11th November when Melksham will be commemorating the centenary of the end of the First World War?”
For more information contact hello@melksham remembers.org.uk
