Life on the front line

The Museum of Liverpool will host a free First World War family history event on Saturday 28 September, to help people search for relatives who served in the war. The day will also feature a replica First World War trench in the Museum's Atrium, so that visitors can get a sense of what life was really like for those who fought on the front line.

The Museum, which looks after the collections of The King's Regiment displayed in the City Soldiers gallery, is working with local experts and societies to assist in research of soldiers from the area.

Experts and historians from a number of local societies will be on hand to assist with family history research between 10am and 4pm, and visitors can gain access to a research database, which contains the biographical details of over 76,000 men who served in the King's Regiment during the First World War.

There will be a range of family friendly activities on offer throughout the day including 'Meet the Experts', talks by First World War historical experts, performances and roleplayers, and arts and crafts for younger visitors.

Visitors can also meet the Museum's own King's Regiment 'Tommy Atkins' and see what his life in a trench was like, or learn about the embroidered postcards he sent home. The Liverpool Welsh Choral will also be performing in the afternoon.

There will be experts on hand from:

•National Museums Liverpool

•Local King's Regiment historians

•The Western Front Association

•Liverpool Family History Society

•The Liverpool First World War Research Committee

•The Liverpool Pals

•The King's Regiment Association

•The Liverpool History Society

•John Moores University

•The University of Liverpool

The King's Regiment Collection at the Museum of Liverpool

City Soldiers - Created in 1685, the King's Regiment is one of Britain's oldest regiments. It has been Liverpool's regiment since 1881, and is now amalgamated into the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment. Focusing on its long history and relationship with the city, the gallery utilises the King's Regiment collection, which includes film, video, memoirs, uniforms, medals, trophies and weaponry, to tell the Regiment's story. Visitors will be inspired to research their family history, using the collection and archive information as a starting point.