The exhibition aimed to communicate how the Great War had affected Horncastle. A great team of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers had obviously spent many hours researching all aspects in order to present a full picture of what war time in Horncastle would have been like.  From agriculture and food shortages, the use of horses and the roles of women, to the Red Cross Hospital that had been set up in the Stanhope Hall. Extensive and detailed research of all the casualties remembered on the war memorial had been beautifully presented in the form of biographies that many visitors were reading in detail. The newspaper accounts for the war period had all been collected and catalogued and were also creating a lot of interest.

As well as the Civic Society's own research they had also worked in partnership with other community groups and individuals to cover some many aspects of the Great War, this meant that displays could be enhanced with original artefacts such as the uniforms and medals and photograph collection brought in by local expert Mike Credland and the tank artefacts and display provided by The Friends of Lincoln Tank. A particular highlight was the use of a local theatre group to provide re-enactments of a recruitment drive and a scene from the trenches. Other local groups involved were the Army Cadets and the Banovallum Brass band and Royal British Legion who closed the exhibition with a Drum Head service.

The group had put a great deal of thought into providing an accessible exhibition for all. Children were provided with a trail with things to find in each area. Attention was paid to space and comfort by providing seating where it was anticipated that people would want to spend a considerable time. Film showings and poetry readings were another aspect of the event which were well attended and offered a different medium for learning.

All the volunteers who had been involved in the research and the development of the exhibition had dressed in the costume of the period and were on hand to answer questions about their area of interest, providing another layer of engagement for visitors, which was extremely beneficial.

There was also a section of the exhibition dedicated to commemoration; with a slide show telling the story of the Centenary Bike ride which had visited the graves of some of the men commemorated on the Horncastle memorial. The Royal British Legion and a local company who are involved in battlefield tours were also present.

This was a very successful exhibition, an enjoyable and thought provoking experience. The event was very well attended with many people returning on the second day to carry on looking at things in detail.

Cathryn Pike
War Memorials Project Officer
Lincolnshire Remembrance: Memories and Memorials