HELMETS, medals, posters and photographs are all part of a new exhibition now open at Musselburgh Museum which pays tribute to those who fought in the First World War.

‘Musselburgh Remembers’ looks at the war and how it affected the town.

Simon Fairnie, from the museum, told the Courier: “It’s a collection of various bits and pieces about the war: how tragic the war was and how it affected a lot of people.” The exhibition has been supported by Heritage Lottery, with £7,500 going towards the display, which will run until December 6.

One of the displays reads: “When the guns fell silent on November 11, 1918, delivery of the fateful telegrams announcing the death of loved ones did not stop.

“Nearly 600 Musselburgh men were dead, shot, drowned or simply missing: others were maimed for life.

“How did Musselburgh respond to the demands of The Great War? One hundred years are peeled back to recall how the town saw its menfolk march off to fight on land and sea, how families coped and how its social structure changed forever.

“The exhibition visits our community and its people through 1914 to 1918, from the brave who fought to the folk at home.” Mr Fairnie stressed the First World War ran for four years and as such there would be time to look at different aspects of the conflict over the next four years.

The war would grow to involve 30 countries across the globe.

One of the displays reads: “By the end of the war old countries had collapsed and new countries were formed.

“Millions of lives had been lost or changed forever. Every city, town and village in Scotland had been deeply affected, including Musselburgh.” It is not just those at war that were affected, though.

Instead, those still working and living in East Lothian also noticed changes.

“The fishing industry was greatly affected by the war,” reads one poster.

“Prior to 1914 the main markets for herring were Germany, Russia and Eastern Europe.

“In September 1914 many trawlers, drifters and crewmen were requisitioned by the Admiralty for coastal patrol and minesweeping.

“Restrictions were also placed on the movement of all vessels in the Forth estuary because the British naval fleet was based at Rosyth.

“One of the main changes that affected all aspects of life in the town was the increase in working roles available to women.”