THE Wyre Forest Historical Research Group is holding a special evening event on Tuesday, November 25 to commemorate the start of World War I in 1914. The group is inviting everyone to bring along any memorabilia such as photographs, memorial plaques, medals, letters etc. related to ancestors from World War I for display on the evening. Instead of one longer talk, there will be a number of short presentations from members of the group who have researched their World War I ancestors, wherever they came from. Local stories will include William Broadfield, who was born in Kidderminster in 1881and killed in France in 1916, leaving a widow and seven children. There will also be tales about the Barlow family from the Horsefair in Kidderminster and the Pritchards from Wilden. A bit further afield, other stories will include that of Louis Carr from Otley, Yorkshire, George Devereaux from Birmingham and the tale of a wallet with two letters, written in 1915 to a family in Walsall. The meeting will take place in the King Charles Room upstairs in Kidderminster Town Hall, starting at 7pm.

Research and Publicity Officer Gay Hill explained further " We realised that there have been a number of commemorations this year aimed towards soldiers from the local area and we wanted to include people with ancestors from outside the area. Also I was very much aware that I was unable to help many people who came along to the Great War Exhibition at Kidderminster Town Hall in September because of time constraints and some problems with technology. The group therefore would like to help everyone who comes along with stories and memorabilia to track down any surviving records for their ancestors. This would also be an ideal opportunity to put such commemorations onto the various websites which have been set up especially, for example by the Imperial War Museum. We would like to help anyone unable to do that for themselves as our way of commemorating those that died during the 1914-18 War. Even if people cannot make it on the evening, if they get in touch with me I can make alternative arrangements to help them. We may be able to arrange another event in the daytime or I may be able to run a World War I family history surgery in Kidderminster Library. "

There will be a small entry fee which includes refreshments. For further information, even if you cannot make it on the evening, telephone Gay on 01562-746370 or email gshill2011@hotmail.co.uk