BROMYARD Royal British Legion Branch were guests of Burley Gate School recently having been invited by teacher Melanie Roberts to meet pupils to discuss aspects of the First World War.

Her pupils were split into three and the RBL team of three took it in each turn to spend time with each group.

Major (Retd) Jan Brodie Murphy had loan of a photograph and personal belongings of Dvr. 56229 John Arthur Pugh from his Gt Gt niece Maureen Bright from Knighton. John had been a groom at Bredenbury Court prior to joining the Army and his unit the Royal Field Artillery D Battery 104th Brigade. He sadly died on 18 Jul 1917 at Passchendaele.

Legion member Mr Richard Davis told his group of his own father's First World War story Pte. 241310 Francis (Frank) Davis born in 1900 in Whitbourne. He decided to run away from home and join the Army at the tender age of 15. His family had no idea where he was until a post card arrived from France in 1916.

The RBL also had professional actor Amanda Vincent Perkins dressed in authentic uniform as a First World War Women's Army Auxiliary Corps nurse named `Agnes Carter`.

Agnes told the children all about the difficulties faced by a woman going to support the war in France and caring for the wounded.

The Bromyard RBL Branch are back in the school later in October making the Bromyard By Pass poppies.