As part of the First World War Schools Project, on Saturday 18th March, parents and students visited the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham. The day was the culmination of a community programme hosted by Brompton Academy for adult learners and parents at the school who, over a four week course had been looking at the impact of the First World War on the area. Participants had the opportunity to learn and refine a number of skills and investigate source material about the war. Elements explored included the bombing of Gillingham, food shortages and rationing, life in the trenches, the war at sea, the importance of Chatham Dockyard, and a detailed exploration of some of the soldiers who fought and died who were from the area. Amber Cottee from the Royal Engineers Museum also visited one of the sessions to conduct an object handling activity.
The visit itself was run by the Director of the Royal Engineers Museum, Rebecca Nash, who explained the significance of the Royal Engineers to the Medway area, led an object handling session for the younger students in attendance, and showed everyone round the exhibitions. These included a look at the Royal Engineers during the Battle of the Somme, and a history of bridge building by the Engineers. The visited ended with a bridge building competition and prizes given out to the winners.
The Royal Engineers Museum fully reopens to the public on 27th May 2017, and future events will be carried out with the First World War Schools Project.
For further information, please contact outreach@kent.ac.uk.