THE clock was turned back 100 years for a First World War commemoration event in Dorchester.

The event at the Corn Exchange was held to evoke the spirit of a fundraiser held in the town 100 years ago when Dorset troops were involved in the siege at Kut Al-Amara in Mesopotamia.

The event also commemorated 100 years since the Battle of the Somme, which involved troops from the Dorset Regiment, and the fight on the Home Front.

It started with a service led by the Rev Canon Thomas Woodhouse and included a programme of talks upstairs in the Town Hall. Downstairs, the Corn Exchange boasted a display of military memorabilia and artefacts as well as a display telling the story of events that took place at Kut. There was also clay

modelling, a performance from the Durnovaria Silver Band, a display on Dorchester’s role as a prisoner of war camp and stalls manned by the likes of the Dorchester Community Play and the Devon and Dorset Regimental Association, which is raising funds for a memorial to soldiers from the regiments.

Mayor of Dorchester Tim Harries said it was a fantastic event to remember an important stage in the history of the town.

He said: “It was a very moving service this morning and it’s a fascinating exhibition here. There’s all sorts of interesting memorabilia here and it’s a very well organised, very pleasant occasion.”

Cllr Harries praised the

contribution from the Keep Military Museum, which had organised with event with Dorchester Town Council, with curator Chris Copson also doing several talks on the day.

He added that it was appropriate the council was set to meet later in the day to agree a donation towards the memorial the Devon and Dorset Regimental Association is raising funds for, which will be placed in the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

For more information about the campaign visit devondorsetregiment.co.uk

The day also saw fascinating stories shared by people who attended, including one man who shared his father’s diaries from his time in the Royal Naval Division.