Radstock Town Council has proudly unveiled the newly- refurbished War Memorial for the town, in time for the commemoration of 100 years since the outbreak of WWI, due to be marked in August this year. A specialist stone- cleaning company has painstakingly cleaned up the memorial and replaced a damaged step. The Town Council now hopes to dedicate the memorial in time, as records show this may never have been done.

The War Memorial was moved from its previous site, opposite the Victoria Hall in 2004, over to the Miners Gardens and no work has been done to it since, despite the site being well attended for services in the town every Remembrance Sunday.

Radstock's War Memorial has a long history. Records show that on 23rd April 1919, plans were discussed at a vestry meeting of St Nicholas Church for a memorial, originally meant to be placed in the church. By 10th May 1920, it was resolved this would be done and the newly-formed Parochial Church Council set about raising money and commissioned Tovey and Co, of Midsomer Norton, to carry out the work. Fundraising was difficult though, and by 1921, the PCC had only raised £34. After much struggle to find the money and modified plans to cut cost, an oak memorial was dedicated in the church on 28th May 1924.

In the same year, seven other members of Radstock Urban District Council joined the War Committee, headed by Canon Bax, to raise funds for a new memorial, to be paid for by the public in Victoria Square. It is thought a captured German gun was mounted on the site of the public toilets, which was later removed and the Great Western Railway Company gave their land for the memorial, with the Council paying the legal costs of the land transfer. The total cost of the project was a total of £267 12s 3d and it is thought the memorial was unveiled in 1925, with a very grand service in 1926 for Armistice Day, involving a parade to Victoria Square with the Drum and Fife Band from Downside School and Radstock Silver Band. Ex-servicemen, the Somerset Police Force and Radstock Lodge of Buffaloes were met by members of the Town Council for a service conducted by Canon Arthur Bax.

Since 1925, the responsibility for the upkeep of the site has passed through Radstock Urban District Council, Norton and Radstock District Council, Wansdyke District Council, Norton Radstock Town Council and now Radstock Town Council, who will be looking to mark the centenary in a fitting way.

To mark 100 years since the start of the First World War, Bath and North East Somerset Council is putting on an exhibition featuring memorabilia from local people and stories from the conflict.

Coinciding with the date that war broke out in August 1914, 'WW1 Remembered' will run at Bath Central Library from 1st–11th August.

It is a collection of memories and artefacts that brings to light some of the unique histories of local residents who served in uniform and on the home front. With no living survivors to share their stories and experiences, the exhibition will consist of materials donated by residents, archives, collections and the descendants of local people and will include photographs, letters from the front, newspaper cuttings, audio visual material and much more.

Exhibition organisers are especially honoured to be able to show a digital portrait of Harry Patch, resident of Combe Down, near Bath. Exhibits include a Victory Medal found in a field, near Paulton, by Mr and Mrs Boswell in the late 1950s when they moved to the area. The medal has 'Private W. Wareham 5117' etched on the rim and they believe him to have been in the Somerset Light Infantry. Mr and Mrs Boswell have expressed an interest in placing the medal back with its rightful owners, which it is hoped the exhibition will enable them to do.

The exhibition will tell a range of stories relating to the time, such as letters from the front penned by William Young, who is remembered on the Royal Victoria Park War Memorial, in Bath, diary entries detailing a soldier's journey to Gosport and memorabilia of Oliver Brooks, from Paulton, who received the Victoria Cross.

The exhibition will open on Friday, 1st August, from 3.30 p.m. – 5 p.m., then from Saturday, 2nd August, it will be available during the library's regular opening times. These are: Monday, 9.30 a.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesday–Thursday, 9.30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 9.30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Those who are unable to attend can also see many of the artefacts on the exhibition blog, which can be found at: http://www.ww1remembered.wordpress.com">www.ww1remembered.wordpress.com