WARTIME stories will be shared at Crofton Beam engine at the weekend as the steaming weekend takes on a Great War theme.

Families will experience what it felt like to sign up to Kitchener’s Army and take part in a drilling of new recruits. Workshops take place at 11.30am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm on July 28 and 29.

Free talks will be given from Michael Cornwell of The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum in Salisbury as he reveals the history of the seven regiments form Wiltshire that fought in World War One.

Apart from normal entry into the Grade 1 listed engines site, all events will be free.

A spokesman from Crofton Beam Engines, near Marlborough, said: “Many of you will have relatives that fought in one of the Wiltshire regiments. Throughout the day ‘Strange Old Things’ will be showing some unusual objects for you to find a use for as well as lots of local history background from the Great Bedwyn and Crofton area.

“A display of World War 1 related objects and replicas that those serving in the First World War and here on the home front would have known.

Wiltshire Museum’s display of ‘Wiltshire at War’ taking us through life as it was on the Home Front from 1914 – 1918.”

The site is open on July 28 and 29 from 10.30am – 4.30pm.