CURATORS at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum are urging visitors to take the opportunity to visit in 2018 to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

The Royal British Legion is calling on the nation to remember the 1.2 million British and Commonwealth armed forces who lost their lives and those – military and civilian – who played their part on the home front.

At the same time, as the 100th anniversary of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, approaches staff at the Woodstock museum are staging a commemorative exhibition running throughout the year.

Oxfordshire Remembers 1914-18 (Part II) a centenary exhibition is now open and will run until December 2.

Museum director Ursula Corcoran said: “This year represents a major milestone in the history of the First World War, not least because it marks the centenary anniversary of the end of the conflict. “The second part of our Great War exhibition seeks to spotlight the impact of the war for Oxfordshire in the closing years as well as the global significance, consequences and legacies of this watershed year.”

Ms Corcoran added that since the attraction opened in 2014 it has marked the anniversary years of the First World War.

She added: “Throughout the centenary years of 2014 to 2018 we have been part of the national programme of commemorative events, cultural activity and education to honour and remember the lives of those who served in and were affected by the war.

“It is vitally important that we commemorate the centenary because of the sheer scale of sacrifice which saw nearly about one million Britons lose their lives.

“The war had a considerable impact on the development of Britain and the world today.

“It helped define us as a nation and gave birth to a number of very significant advances in particular the emancipation of women and improvements in medicine and technology.

“The exhibition highlights these changes and brings a county perspective to this history.”

Ms Corcoran said the museum’s archive contained stories of servicemen from India and the West Indies, Australia and Canada, fighting together.

Much of the archive is on public show for the first time.

The museum director added: “We want people to find out how the war shaped our society and continues to touch our lives at a personal level, in our local communities and as a nation.

“The exhibition caters for all types of visitors with activities for children and opportunities to explore family history with the help of our experienced research team.”

The museum focuses on the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and The Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars.

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