AN exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War opens at the Museum of Somerset in Taunton this weekend.

‘Somerset Remembers the First World War’ opens on Saturday and tells the story of how the county was affected by the events of the conflict from 1914 to 1918 and how people have remembered the war, and those lost in it.

The exhibition details the fascinating accounts of the lives and experiences of Somerset men, women and children, with objects, photographs and costumes for visitors to enjoy.

‘Somerset Remembers’ includes sections on the outbreak of war, local efforts to support troops at the front, wartime agriculture, the county regiments and the legacy of the war. It also features artwork by Somerset artist Jon England.

Thousands of Somerset men served in the armed forces during the First World War and over 8,000 of them would never return home. The exhibition brings their stories to life and shows how Somerset was transformed by war.

Visitors to the exhibition can contribute to an evolving memorial in the gallery, enjoy object handling or take part in a guided tour around Taunton’s First World War-related sites.

The exhibition is on display at the Museum of Somerset from Saturday, July 26 to January 3, 2015.

The museum is open from 10am to 5pm – with the last entry 4.30 pm – from Tuesdays to Saturdays, and Bank Holiday Mondays.

Entry to the museum and the exhibition is free. For further information visit: www.somersetremembers.com *See our 20-page Forst World World supplement in this week’s County Gazette.