TWELVE Army Cadets from Corsham have travelled to the Somme battlefield in France as part of a social history project and to commemorate two local men who died in the First World War.

They were part of 150-strong contingent from Wiltshire and 4,000 army cadets and volunteers from across the UK taking part in the Armistice 2018 commemorative visits for the 100th anniversary of the end of the war.

Other army cadets came from detachments in Calne, Chippenham, Devizes, Marlborough, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbury in North and West Wiltshire.

Before undertaking the visit, the cadets, aged 13-18, undertook research to understand more about their own families’ 100 year journey from WW1 to present day resulting in many fascinating case studies. Their research helped them to understand the roles their relatives played during WW1, encouraged them find out more about local heroes, and enabled them to reflect on the freedoms they enjoy today.Accompanied by their volunteer instructors, the cadets journeyed to France from the Shorncliff Army Camp near Cheriton in Kent in five groups of over 700.During the visits, over the period October 19-29, each group of cadets had the opportunity to talk to experts about the causes of WW1, the course of the war, technology (including tanks, mines, aircraft, artillery and radio), media, medicine and commemoration.Mark Perrett, from Corsham Army Cadets, said: “Cadets and volunteers taking part in this event will receive a Commemorative Armistice Centenary Book, which has been prepared especially for the event, as well as an enamel mug like those issued to troops during the war, and a commemorative shoulder bag. These will provide the lasting reminders of this visit, alongside the memories made on the trip.

“The visit is made even more special for our Cadets through the links to their local history that they have researched. This is a once in a lifetime event for all involved, and a chance for their stories and those of their local communities to be captured by this project.”

The Corsham cadets visited the Somme on Sunday (28 October) as part of their three-day trip. Along with up to 1,000 other Cadets they toured four selected stands with expert guides to learn more about the cause of, and course of, the war.

The day culminated in a Drumhead Commemorative Service at the Thiepval Memorial led by Padre Alan Jeans, where two soldiers from Corsham, Albert Allen and Frank Hatter, were remembered.

The Cadets will use information and photographs from their trip to create a display for The War is Over, an exhibition organised by the Corsham Commemorates Group, which is taking place at Corsham Town Hall on Sunday, November 11 from 1.30pm to 4pm.

The exhibition will also highlight Corsham’s Women of World War One, take a look at the war’s longer lasting impact on the town, and revisit Above and Beyond, 2016’s display about the Red Cross Hospital based in Corsham.

At 2pm, there will be a recreation, at St Bartholomew’s Church, of the Thanksgiving Service held as news of peace reached Corsham in 1918.