AN appeal has been launched for First World War memorabilia relating to Chippenham's Unity and Loyalty hospital by the museum and heritage centre.

The exhibition on the war time hospital, which was featured in the Gazette and Herald's Nostalgia section last week, is due to open in November.

Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre is asking residents to help with the search for memorabilia from the town’s wartime hospital and to share any family stories.

The museum team has been working for the last three years collating items and stories for the major Unity and Loyalty exhibition which opens on November 5, 100 years to the day of the first wounded soldiers arriving at the Red Cross hospital.

Curator Melissa Barnett said: “We are asking people to look in attics, basements, stores, suitcases and drawers for anything relating to Chippenham in World War One and the Unity and Loyalty hospital.”

The appeal has already unearthed a collection of regimental badges awarded to Unity and Loyalty nurse Ethel Crook, a nursing sister in charge of the auxiliary hospital, by the soldiers she looked after.

The collection, which was presented to the museum by Ethel’s nephew, covers a large number of regiments from the Wiltshire Regiment to the Gordon Highlanders as well as some from Canada and Australia. It had been stored in an attic but Mr Crook offered to loan it to the museum after hearing about the exhibition.

Other memorabilia located includes a blanket used on the wards and an original hospital ward bed.

If you have an item or a story you would like to share for the exhibition contact the museum on (01249) 705020 or email heritage@chippenham.gov.uk