Moorlands soldiers stories come home in new exhibition

'Coming Home' - a new exhibition opening this weekend at Leek's Nicholson Museum and Art Gallery - remembers the lives of soldiers from across the Staffordshire Moorlands who left their rural communities to fight in the First World War.

What began as a European war quickly escalated to a global war lasting four years and involving 28 nations which saw millions of people killed. This exhibition commemorates the centenary of the end of what came to be known as The Great War.

And local historian Cathryn Walton will be bringing the soldiers experiences to life when she gives a free illustrated talk on Saturday 3 November.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council Leader and cabinet member for arts and culture, Councillor Sybil Ralphs, visited the exhibition with Cathryn in advance of it opening on 6 October.

She said: "'Coming Home' is intimate and moving with real resonance today because it remembers soldiers from the Moorlands who left their rural homes to go to war.

"The families of so many of those brave soldiers will still live in the district which makes our hosting of such an important exhibition, as we mark the centenary of the end of the Great War, all the more special.

"I hope that people will come and learn more about the impact of the First World War on communities across the Moorlands as we keep their stories alive and ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten."

The exhibition runs from Saturday 6 October to Saturday 10 November and the gallery is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday. Cathryn's talk on Saturday 3 November starts at 1.30pm. Admission to both the exhibition and the talk is free.