WWI open day event - Newton Abbot Museum

By: Felicity Cole
Added: 30 September 2013

First World War open day 10:15-3:00

Saturday 28th September 2013.

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The First World war open day event held on Saturday was well attended, despite the weather!

Helpful researchers were on hand to enable people to find out about the ancestry, whether it was on WWI information or general. 

There was a constant buzz of conversation for four hours. People brought in   a wide range of fascinating small and large objects, together with a large collection photographs connected to the WWI.  There were many stories of brave officers and men.

Val from Totnes Image Bank came to discover information about an image of a man,who was awarded the VC, sitting outside the VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) hospital in Newton Abbot.

He was identified as Drummer (Lance-Corporal) William Kenny, 2^nd Battalion the Gordon Highlanders. He won his VC, as the newspaper reported in 1915, "for conspicuous bravery on 23^rd October near Ypres in rescuing wounded men on five occasions under very heavy fire in the most fearless manner, and for twice previously saving machine guns by carrying them out of action. On numerous Drummer Kenny conveyed urgent messages under very dangerous circumstances under fire-swept ground".

Totnes Image Bank have generously sent the images to the museum this morning which will be included within the museum exhibitions/booklets for 2014.

A successful day!