KENDAL schoolchildren were given a first-hand account of how wounded servicemen were treated during World War One at a special session at the town’s archive offices.

Year Six pupils from Stramongate School were the latest to take advantage of the free sessions, run by senior archivist Margaret Owen.

“The topic is particularly relevant to our area as a number of men from this locality enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving in hospitals and dressing stations close to the battlefields,” she said.

“As part of the session children found out about these hospitals using diaries and photographs which are held at the centre.”

She added: “The children also found out how wounded servicemen were evacuated back to England from the hospitals near the Front.

“On their return they were taken by ambulance train to temporary hospitals set up in private houses, including private houses in our area.

“In Kendal part of the old Stramongate School was converted into a hospital and children from the present school were able to identify their current school hall which, in WW1, was used as a hospital ward.”

The children were also able to try on a reproduction WW1 nurses’ uniform, make stretchers for carrying the wounded and to have a go at bandaging, as well as visiting the Kendal Archive Centre strong room where the WW1 material is stored.