Soldiers in trenches on the Western Front
SCHOOLS and history groups have pulled together to create an exhibition detailing the enormous impact of the First World War on a North Yorkshire town.
To mark the centenary of the war, an exhibition is to be held at Stokesley town hall on Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17, which will show the social impact the conflict had on Stokesley and the fate of local residents sent to fight.
The exhibition is the combined work of a number of local history groups, including Stokesley Local History Society, Stokesley Heritage Group and societies in Great Ayton and Hutton Rudby.
Community archaeologist Kevin Cale worked with children at Stokesley Primary School to link the events of the First World War with events in the town.
Older pupils from Stokesley School were also involved and a digital map created which plots where in the town the soldiers came from, where they fought and where they fell.
Stokesley was said to be little more than a village before the First World War, but a local landowner donated land to the people of the town in recognition of the sacrifice they made. Much of the town now stands on that land.
Stokesley resident and local historian, Keith Burton, said the research will continue after the exhibition.
“We started this project by identifying people on the war memorials and researching their stories,” he said.
“We uncovered something in the region of 300 names of people who fought in the war. Of those 300 we have probably researched the stories of about 20 to 30 so far, so it’s a huge task.
“Once you start it, it seems wrong to give up and imply the other 270 don’t matter.”
People are invited to bring along photographs or memorabilia to the exhibition at Stokesley Town Hall, relating to the First or Second World War and share their own family stories. The information will be recorded as part of the project.
The exhibition runs from 10am until 4pm on both days. For more information contact Keith Burton on 01642-321253.
