THE SACRIFICE made by the people of North Tawton during the First World War will be marked with words and music by the community in a special event next week.

The Community Commemoration of the 1918 Armistice takes place on Friday and Saturday, October 12 and 13 in St Peter’s Church in the town.

Proceeds from the two evening shows and Saturday matinee will be donated to Help for Heroes.

The event brings together local people with different talents to present a picture of how the Great War impacted upon Mid Devon a century ago.

Using a script prepared by local historian Dr Alan Parkinson, pre-recorded voices of members of the community will tell the story with a video presentation showing pictures and documents of the time. There will also be ‘live’ voices and actors to show some of the personal pressures felt by ordinary people of that period, whether they served in the war or stayed at home to help ‘keep the home fires burning’.

Local singers and a live band – the Bondleigh Barn Band – will lead the audience in renditions of popular songs of the period.

Alan explained that his script was based on Okehampton and District History Society’s 2016 book on the history of the Great War, which threw up many stories about those who went to war.

‘We’re looking at the effect of the war, not only on the 52 men from North Tawton who went and never came back but also on the ones who survived and the ones that stayed at home,’ he said. ‘We tell the story of one local lad who has gone off to the war and his mother who remains at home. They are played by actors.

‘The Bondleigh Barn Band will be playing a medley of Great War numbers and we will also be singing Silent Night in German and It’s a Long Way to Tipperary and Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit Bag. We’ll be ending with some songs from the 1920s.’

Schoolchildren from the local primary school are also taking part, laying wreaths in memory of the soldiers who never came home.

For more information call Dr Alan Parkinson on 01837 880497.