A REPLICA trench complete with virtual sniper fire will be the centre piece display at Petersfield Museum to commemorate this year’s centenary of the First World War.

The life size trench with a dug out and fox hole, aims to give visitors a taste of life during the war in which nearly one million British service personnel were either killed or went missing in action.

It lasted from July 1914 to November 1918, and as part of the 100-year commemoration, outbuildings that are part of the former Petersfield police station have been converted into the trench.

The Victorian police station in St Peter’s Road closed two years ago, and is now being converted into a museum, joined by an ambitious walk way to the existing museum in the old courthouse.

Museum education officer Ryan Watts said: “There is also the ‘In Memoriam: 1918,’ exhibition area, which will feature about 500 poppies made by school children and members of organisations like the Women’s Institute (WI).

“The poppies will commemorate the service personnel from Petersfield and the surrounding villages who died in the war.”

The memoriam area is due to open for an evening of readings from the poems, diary, and letters of Steep war poet Edward Thomas, who died on April 9, 1917, during the Battle of Arras in northern France.

The evening on Tuesday, April 24, will reveal the solitary nature of the poet, who enjoyed walking on and around the Shoulder of Mutton Hill near Steep.

Ryan said: “He was a melancholy man, and this came out during his time in France.”

The readings come after two walks organised by the Edward Thomas Fellowship on Sunday, April 22, both starting at Bedales School car park.

The morning walk of between four and five miles leaves at 10.30am, and takes in the Poets Stone erected in memory of Edward Thomas.

The afternoon walk of more than two miles leaves at 2.30pm; there will readings of the poets work during the walks, and the day finishes with tea at 4pm in Steep church.

Tickets for the evening of readings cost £5 (£4 for museum members) and can be booked in advance by e-mailing [email protected] or by contacting the museum on 01730 232605.

For details about the walks visit the Edward Thomas Fellowship website at: www.edward-thomas-fellowship.org