From the other side of the wire

100 years on from the training and works of the Horse Isolation Hospital, and the research by the team into finding its location has been reported in Germany. In Der Spiegel no less! Huge thanks to Angelika for writing this - some 4 years after she reported on the discovery of Pte Alan James Mather of the 33rd Btn AIF (whose remains were recovered by No-Mans-Land Archaeology in 2008). Alan briefly lived opposite the garrison church in Larkhill prior to his deployment and subsequent death at Messines in 1917.
http://www.spiegel.de/wissenschaft/mensch/pferde-im-ersten-weltkrieg-archaeologen-untersuchen-lazarett-a-1005098.html

The Artists Gunners

This week has seen all the school workshops completed with six schools visited and many plans made for commemorative events next week. The next big project element is the artwork component with Olivia Gill. All participants - schools, soldiers and local volunteers - will be asked to put together figures for incorporation in a scroll to be unveiled at the end of the project. Olivia is currently exhibiting some wonderful War Horse art in Marlborough. Pop into the gallery to see what may be in store for us all!
http://olivialomenechgill.wordpress.com/2014/10/22/with-new-won-eyes-exhibition-opening/

Over the Airwaves

Another nice piece on the project by Shirley Swain of British Forces Broadcasting Services. This includes interviews with Julian and the splendid children of Durrington School:

http://web202.ssvc.com/radio/articles/2980

Wonderful work

If you go to Durrington school - keen digging participants on this project - you will be greeted by their model of Joey the War Horse. A wonderful model and a lovely way to greet visitors. Behind 'Joey' is a display of alot of the work done by children on this topic. Really well done to all of you.

In remembrance

Today the team started working with local schools to remember those men from the First World War who trained on the Plain and who died, being buried in local cemeteries. School children (in Amesbury and Durrington today) undertook internet searches to find out about the names and lives of those men and to remember them. The children will then add their thoughts to a poppy cross to be used on 11th November, and will use their new knowledge in other curricular studies. Lots of fascinating stories about those names from 1914-18, artillerymen, veterinary corps, and infantry. Not forgotten

Some thanks

This coming week will see the schoolchildren on the project researching the graves of soldiers from the First World War buried in local cemeteries. Before this though - a vote of thanks to the Wyvern Historical and Detecting club who were instrumental in the success of the archaeological fieldwork component of the War Horse project with many of the better finds were a result of their hard work. thanks chaps.

http://www.wyvernhds.co.uk/