A new exhibition exploring the personal impact of the First World War has opened at the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum in Gloucester. Titled Unfinished Lives: Remembrance and Loss, the exhibition focuses on the 880,000 British servicemen who died during the conflict and is open to the public from now until the end of summer 2026.
The exhibition is located within the historic Custom House building at Gloucester Docks. It features a collection of deeply personal letters from the local Fream family, which document their correspondence before and after the death of Lieutenant William Fream. Lieutenant Fream, who served with the 1st/5th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment, was killed in action at the Somme on 20-21 July 1916.
Curated by Alex Hatton, a Master’s student from Swansea University on a work placement at the museum, the display highlights the profound grief felt by families left behind during the war. It serves as a reminder of the human cost of the conflict, during which the Gloucestershire Regiment saw nearly 1,800 deaths in France between July and November 1916.
The exhibition is included with standard museum entry. Adult tickets are £6.50, children are £4, and family tickets are available for £15. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm, and on Sundays from 11am to 5pm, with final entry permitted one hour before closing time.
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