A POIGNANT presentation on the 21 men from a North Herefordshire parish who lost their lives during the First World War can be found at Croft Castle this weekend.

Staff and volunteers have been trawling through archives to piece together the stories of the Croft and Kevill-Davies families during this time and visitors can find out more about the project over the living history weekend.

Sir Herbert Archer Croft was killed in action at Gallipoli in 1915 and William Albert Somerset Herbert Kevill-Davies, who was living at Croft during the war, died of wounds he received at Ypres in 1915.

Costumed demonstrators will also bring the Castle and its grounds to life with informative talks and military displays, with visitors encouraged to bring along their old photographs to be dated. Families can step back in time and get stuck in with Edwardian laundry duties, wartime gardening and victory-crown making.

They can even taste “Bully Beef” freshly made from an authentic Soyer Stove.

A highlight of the event will be an extensive display of artefacts, medals, weaponry, books and memorabilia by Simon Jarman, author of ‘Gentleman Jim of the 20 DLI 1916-1918’.

It tells the story of Mr Jarman’s uncle – a soldier and photographer during the First World War.

Visitors can also step inside a wartime medical tent to discover how the wounded were treated one hundred years ago. Families are encouraged to dress up in the 1916 Recruiting Office and see if they would have met the requirements to join his Majesty’s army.

The Ambassador’s Room in the castle has been dedicated to telling the story of Croft during the First World War and visitors can sit and reflect on the devastating impact the war had on the family and the local parish, with photographs, letters, newspapers, artefacts and uniforms.

This weekend is also an opportunity to witness traditional autumn estate management in Fishpool Valley.