Great War exhibition hailed a success

The event at the Cadet Hall was organised as part of the Michaelmas Fair and was held as the centenary of the Armistice which brought an end to the bloodshed approaches.

It was organised by local historians David and Janet Preshous under the auspices of South West Shropshire Historical & Archaeological Society and Bishop’s Castle Heritage Forum.

It included locally researched material, some of which had come from family records and servicemen's letters. Among the tales showcased were the man with no hands who was still able to write, and the dentist who found himself performing dental work as a prisoner-of war.

Janet said: "The photographs and artifacts brought back memories of survivors, as well as those who were wounded or killed in action.

"In 1917 the people of Bishop’s Castle had sent parcels to the troops. Some of their letters of thanks had been kept by E.C. Davies, ironmonger and then Mayor of the town. Among them was one from F. J. Radford, Royal Garrison Artillery. It had been very good to be able recently to show this pencilled letter from her father to his daughter Miss Gladys Radford, born 1919, after his safe return.

"Emmanuel Lovekin was a well-known local dentist – he sent a postcard of himself with other Royal Flying Corps airmen to his brother saying ‘Still Alive!’"

Among the letters home was one to Emmanuel from his brother John, who was in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, and the letter announced he was a prisoner of war in Germany.

"However, as he was a dentist also, he had been made camp dentist, given excellent dental equipment, and was carrying out ‘six or eight fillings and extractions a day’ – he felt pretty lucky to be out of the trenches."

Donations at the exhibition were made to Michaelmas Fair, and to the Royal British Legion.

Janet added: "Some of the local aspects of the display will be on show in Bishop's Castle Town Hall in late October and November."