SCHOOLchildren between eight and eleven have been involved in a project to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme that began 100 years ago on July 1, 1916.

Nick Watkinson of the Red Spider Amateur Dramatic Society created the project and has been teaching the children about the history of the battle, which saw over one million men killed or injured. The work has been concentrating on those that lost their lives from Lifton, Lewtrenchard and Bratton Clovelly and the letters they wrote home from the front lines. 

Nick, and members of the company, have asked the children to imagine what would have been said in those letters and to produce their own ideas to describe the emotions and concerns of the soldiers and the families left at home.

One child at the Lifton Primary School workshop said: "The families must have been scared because so many people died, and they might hear their son died too." 

One of the letters James Lucas at Lewtrenchard Primary School wrote was from a soldier to their wife and said: ‘I’m missing you I’m so sad. I wish I was shot in the arm so I could come back home to you.’

The children also experienced the culture of the era through song and saw how it was influenced by trench-life, from music hall classics like Your King and Country Want You, to the trench tune They Were Only Playing Leapfrog.

As a result of this five-week project, a pack of learning resources has been put together for use by other schools and organisations.

Red Spider hope the exercise will ensure the sacrifices made by so many will never be forgotten by future generations.

The work involved has been supported not only by the Red Spider Company but also by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. It forms part of the work surrounding the production of ‘All the Fine Young Men’ — a musical drama to be performed in the Lewdown Victory Hall on July 14, 15 and 16. 

Tickets are available from www.crbo.co.uk/ATFYM or by calling 01726 879500.  Other events associated with the production include a vigil service being held in the Lost Gardens of Lewtrenchard on July 1, at 12noon and an exhibition of World War One memorabilia to be held in Lewdown Victory Hall on Saturday, July 9.  

The production will be recorded and a DVD put together with other relevant items from the project being buried in a time capsule in the Lost Gardens prior to the play going on tour to Axminster, Okehampton and Tavistock and other venues such as retirment or care homes.