NORTH Oxfordshire villagers have really got the history bug after tracing what happened to their relatives during the Frist World War.

Their findings have been used to create a week-long display in St James Church, Somerton commemorating locals involved in the war effort.

And now they’re considering tackling what villagers did at the Battle of Waterloo, which will have its 200th anniversary next year.

The Great War exhibition was jointlyorganised by Rosemary Arnold and Alice Bowmaker, with help from Blenheim Palace in Woodstock.

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Mrs Arnold, 73, said they had not been able to find out much about local men who had gone to war, because many of their families no longer live in Somerton. So instead they asked all the current families in the village to find out about their relatives instead.

The grandmother-of-eight said: “We are remembering the men from Somerton who went to war, all of whom are featured on our town war memorials, but we also opened it up to present villagers and their families.

“We have had lots of people coming in so we would definitely like to do something again, though we could do with more help next time.

“Next year it will be the 200th anniversary of Battle of Waterloo, so we may do something about that.”

One of the items on display is the diary of Mrs Bowmaker’s grandmother, Alice Saunders, who died in 1962. She brings to life what life was like in the village between 1914 and 1918.

Villagers also had help from Blenheim Palace head of education Karen Wiseman, who lives in Somerton. Mrs Wiseman said the estate had supplied timelines display boards, pictures, Red Cross nurses’ outfits, medals, British and German helmets and army uniforms.

She said: “It is a very interesting and personal exhibition. I liked the way the exhibition included stories of those who were lucky enough to come home as well as those who were not so lucky.”

Mrs Arnold added: “They are brilliant and the uniforms have been particularly interesting to children who have visited because they can really see what they were like.” She said the tale of one villager, Private Frank Parker, was “particularly sad”. His granddaughter Chris Gresham Smith lives in Somerton now.

Mrs Gresham Smith wrote for the exhibition: “He worked as an outdoor machinist for Fred Wright before joining the 18th Queen Mary’s Own Hussars, [a cavalry regiment of the British Army].

“In the action at Ypres in 1915 he suffered serious injuries to his legs and told a comrade he would try to make it back to the dressing station. However, before he got there it is thought a shell exploded overhead, with the debris burying him. His last resting place is unknown.”

Pt Parker died on May 13, 1915, leaving a wife and four young children.

The free exhibition is in Fermor Chapel, in St James Church, can be seen from 11am until 5pm today and tomorrow.

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