Living First World War history event at Belton House near Grantham

To commemorate the centenary of the Machine Gun Corps at Belton House, a very special living history event is coming to Belton next weekend.

The Great War Society is putting on a living history weekend in Belton on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23. Events, talks and exhibitions will be taking place all year as Belton remembers the Machine Gun Corps, and the soldiers who served in it.

As part of the living history weekend, members of the society will be kitted out with period uniforms, weapons and equipment, and visitors are warmly invited to come and meet the Tommies in the grounds of Belton.

They will be able to explore the military camp throughout the day and find out what life was like for soldiers of the First World War.

There will be a chance to chat to members of the society and discover everything about the soldiers, from what they ate and where they slept, to how they maintained their equipment and trained for the ferocity of the trenches.

Over the weekend, the Great War Society will be demonstrating these vital aspects of training on the oval at 11.30am and 2.30pm. A variety of weapons will be fired and the precise manoeuvring of the infantry drills performed just as they were 100 years ago.

Bill Fulton of the Machine Gun Corps Old Comrades Association will be in the mansion with authentic machine gun objects and clothing.

National Trust members have free access to this event, normal admission prices apply for non-members. To find out more, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/belton-house or e-mail belton@nationaltrust.org.uk