An exhibition with a difference is now on show at Beaminster Museum to commemorate 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War.

Previous commemorations in West Dorset this year have included services of remembrance at Shipton Gorge and St Mary’s Church in Bridport, torchlight vigil events in West Bay and Lyme Regis, a two-day exhibition of war memorabilia at Burton Bradstock Village Hall and much more.

But a new exhibition put together entirely by volunteers at Beaminster Museum shines a different light on the commemorations.

The WW1 exhibition, entitled ‘Home and Away; Lest We Forget’ focuses both on the battle front and how it affected the families in the local area left at home.

Andrew Ravenhill, co project manager for the exhibition, said: “While a lot of this year’s commemorations for the First World War have focused on the fighting involved in the conflict and the soldiers themselves, our exhibition highlights the lives of those left at home.”

As visitors enter the exhibition, they are greeted by a recruiting desk complete with union flag and recruitment documentation so that they can see how this process was achieved.

Part of the exhibition is devoted to the families of Beaminster and the local surrounding villages who had to cope under very difficult circumstances at home.

It shows many activities women carried out to support the war troops including fundraising, knitting, the Women’s Land Army, Red Cross service and other voluntary aid work.

Coupled with this, domestic home life during the war is portrayed with one scene of a mother standing with her son at the dining table and a picture of her husband on the wall, whilst another reveals a woman who has just received a telegram on her hand bearing news.

The experience for soldiers fighting in the war is also brought to life with the recreation of a First World War trench and an officer’s dugout complete with war furnishings.

The exhibition also has a depiction of part of a military hospital and there are also many pictures of military medals, groups of nurses and poignant pictures of cemeteries.

There is also the chance to see a range of artefacts which have been generously loaned, given or found in the local area.

Douglas Beazer, publicity officer for the museum, added: “There is a memorial board where visitors can put their memories, thoughts, stories and copies of photographs of loved ones which helps bring the exhibition to life on a personal basis for Beaminster and the surrounding villages.

“Here at the museum we are also very fortunate to have copies of some of the late Dr Lake’s war paintings which were shown on the television programme Antiques Roadshow recently.

“But the most poignant and important part of the exhibition shows pen pictures and photographs of the 156 men from Beaminster and the local area who gave their lives and whose names appear on the war memorials.

“We’ve had a great response so far with positive comments in the guest book, which is really good news.

“I would encourage anyone interested in the history of the First World War on a local level to come and give the museum a visit.”

The museum has also published a book entitled ‘Sons of Beaminster’ by project manager for the WW1 exhibition, Sarah Drinnan, which gives a short biography of each of those men on the Beaminster War Memorial.

The book is now on sale in the museum shop for £5.

The WW1 exhibition is now open and will run at the museum until Sunday, November 2.

The museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and bank holiday Mondays from 10.30am until 1pm and 2pm until 4.30pm.

It is also open on Sundays from 2pm until 4.30pm.

For more information call the museum on 01308 863623.