‘The Chosen & the Fallen’ Great War weekend

RE-ENACTMENTS, displays and exhibitions brought the World War I to life last weekend as the Westbury Remembers project began its series of commemorative events.

A Wiltshire at War Exhibition, Wall of Remembrance and display by local group Wiltshire Soldiers were all part of the ‘The Chosen and the Fallen’ centenary events.

Westbury Town Council’s Julie Dyer said, “The weekend went very well. It was much busier than we expected and we’ve had some great feedback. People have said the displays were very interesting and that it was great to see something so focussed on local people. I think showing the loss of life and how the war affected  the Westbury area in particular really helped to demonstrate the impact of the conflict.

“We were pleased to see people of all ages visit the exhibition. A lot of hard work went into putting it all together but I’m very pleased with how it has turned out. Everything has worked as we hoped it would.”

A mock-up command bunker and trench, memorabilia, soldier biographies and photographs, and a wall of remembrance consisting of crosses made by schoolchildren were among the displays on show.

The exhibitions will continue at the Laverton until Friday 17th July. The Westbury Remembers project will next be hosting an art exhibition as part of the Westbury Music and Arts Festival later this year.

The project is run by the town’s Great War Commemoration Group, led by the town council and including members of the Royal British Legion,  Westbury Area Board, the Wiltshire Family History Society, Heritage Society and many others. The commemoration project received a grant of £9,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

For more information about WWI centenary events contact the town council on 01373 822232.