First World War fun this weekend at museum
THIS weekend Hinckley and District Museum is hosting First World War open days in collaboration with the Leicestershire and Rutland Branch of the Western Front Association.
There will be an opportunity for visitors to learn about the premier, nationally-based, Western Front Association which has been encouraging people to learn and explore all aspects of the First World War for many years.
The group encourages both beginners who want to get to know a little more through to people who already know something about this crucial period in our history.
There will be a chance for children to meet a First Wold War re- enactor who will describe what it was like to be under fire and in the trenches. There will be displays from collectors of memorabilia and Hinckley and District Museum will be presenting a display on Hinckley’s Home front - recalling the families left behind when men went off to war across the globe.
There is a special display at the museum this year on the “best soldier in the Leicestershire Reg- iment” - Private Togo Bolesworth of Hinckley, and there is a chance to trace his footsteps to his death in no-man’s land and the traces he left behind in his home town.
The museum is open on Saturday from 10am to 3.30pm and Sunday 2pm to 4.30pm. It is located in the thatched cottages on Lower Bond Street, Hinckley - and sits astride the 158 and the 48 bus routes from Leicester. There is free parking available on Sunday adjacent to the museum.
Museum chairman, Ann Crabtree said: “We are delighted to welcome the WFA as this complements the work we have been doing since 2014 to commemorate the centenary of the First World War. We encourage everyone to come and see what the association can offer and to sample the delights of our wonderful museum”.