THANKS to National Lottery players a new First World War exhibition exploring the final few months of the war was recently opened at a special launch event at The Museum of North Craven Life, The Folly, in Settle.

‘1918: Long Last Mile’ is the fifth and final exhibition in association with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) supported Craven and the First World War project.

The project has followed every year of the war, looking at the impact it had on he people of North Craven, since the start of the centenary commemorations of the ‘Great War’ in 2014.

The latest and last of the series of exhibitions was opened by the Rev. Ian Greenhalgh, retired vicar of Austwick and Clapham, who was a former Royal Air Force (RAF) chaplain.

Mr Greenhalgh spoke about his time serving in Germany, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and the Falklands, and also about the importance and impact of the Chaplain’s role as one of service at all times in widely different circumstances.

Kate Croll, curator of the exhibition explained how delighted she was that Rev Greenhalgh was opening the exhibition as she paid tribute to the early pilots of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), later to become the Royal Air Force (RAF),.

She also paid tribute to the army chaplain, the Rev. Theodore Bayley Hardy VC, DSO, MC, the most highly decorated non-combatant of the war who died 100 years ago in October.

Before the war, he had been the vicar of Hutton Roof., near Kirkby Lonsdale.

This exhibition also explores the role of the Army Service Corps, the role of women and the fate of prisoners of war, as well as focussing on what life was like at home, including the shortage of food and rationing. As in previous exhibitions, it also follow the fortunes of the 6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment in the final year of the war.

Rob Freeman, project officer for The Craven and the First World War project, said: “The support from the Heritage Lottery Fund has allowed us to see the centenary through to its conclusion and I’m delighted that it has meant we have been able to work with The Folly again to build on the knowledge and understanding gained from previous exhibitions and follow the progress of many individuals through the war, revealing acts of great bravery and humanity, along the way”

Many of the area’s young men joined the Duke of Wellington’s regiment, and it is though their diaries, that the museum has gained much of its material.

It also follows the fortunes of Doris Procter, who joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) at the outbreak of the war, and her brother, Sidney, an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy. Doris died in December, 1918 from pneumonia, and Sidney died from his wounds at a field hospital in September, 1918. The siblings are remembered by a stained glass window at Holy Ascension Church, Settle.

The exhibition also looks at the part played by the newly formed Royal Air Force (RAF), the development of motor transport, and what life was like at home, including the shortage of food.

The ‘1918: The Long Last Mile’ exhibition at The Folly runs until the end of December and is open every day from 1pm to 4pm. As part of the exhibition programme, there will be a talk given by author Robert Bullock on ‘Women, Work, War: Women in WWI’ on Friday, October 5 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £7 in advance from The Folly or by telephoning 01729 822 893.