THE Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum has reopened to the public with new displays and exhibitions.

To coincide with the anniversary of the First World War, a new exhibition entitled 1914 – The Country Goes to War covers a soldier’s life, from signing up to fighting on the frontline.

The exhibition includes many artefacts that have been brought out for the first time from the museum’s reserve collection, along with photographs, documents and original telegraphs sent to the battalions of the Wiltshire Regiment telling them to mobilise.

The First World War permanent displays have also had a makeover, with a display about machine guns including Lewis, Vickers and two Maxim guns.

And the A Close Shave display is made up of objects that have been involved with saving a soldier’s life, such as a cigarette tin with a bullet hole through it and damaged helmets.

A touch screen presentation tells the story in moving images of the role The Wiltshire Regiment played in The Great War.

The exhibition 1914 – The Country Goes to War will run until the end of November at the Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum in Salisbury Cathedral Close.