A REGIMENTAL museum has had a good response to an appeal to recruit youngsters to help mark the centenary of the battle of The Somme by doing what the soldiers did themselves, creating their own newspaper.

To lighten the grim tragedy of the world they were battling to survive in, soldiers did everything they could to lighten the mood, creating as much laughter and fun as they possibly could. So cartoons and newspapers like the famous 'Wipers Times' were a huge boost.

The Green Howards Museum in Richmond is working over the summer with young visitors to help them create their own trench newspaper to mark the centenary.

Learning Officer Carl Watts said: "It is such a grim subject in so many ways, we are talking about death and tragedy, so for the children we wanted to do something lighter and creating a newspaper seemed the best approach.

“We wanted to do a modern version of the Wipers Times which was the soldiers light hearted take on Ypres. We don’t have a name yet which is good because we want the children to come up with possible names.

“We have had a good response, children have been keen to get involved, one nine year old girl came in two days running with her mum and then her dad to make a contribution.”

Cartoons were also a big part of the campaign to lighten the mood, Fragments from France was a publication put together with contributions by people like Bruce Bairnsfather, renowned as the man who gave Britain its most important weapon, laughter.

“Cartoons have been particularly popular with the children. We’re doing this throughout the summer , so anyone who want to come in are very welcome. At the end of the school holidays we will be putting our online paper together which the children can see,” added Mr Watts.