THE sound of Merlin engines, cannon-fire, muskets and music will be heard in the fields of Ebbesbourne Wake this summer as the Chalke Valley History Festival returns to celebrate the past.

This year sees the centenary of three important battles of the First World War: the naval Battle of Jutland, the French and German ten-month Battle of Verdun, and the Battle of the Somme.

Now in its sixth year, the history festival will be marking each one, along with a vast range of talks, discussions, debates, and study mornings, from the dinosaurs right through to the Cold War and beyond.

Co-chairman of the festival James Holland said: “This year we have a wider range of subjects, more diverse speakers, incredible historic aircraft, and a truly spectacular living history show with World War II tank battles, Vikings, Romans, a totally authentic scale section of First World War trench and a fabulous 1940s Blitz Party.

“To have Mark Knopfler talking about and playing his history songs, and eminent historians like Niall Ferguson speaking, while at the same time there are a vast number of activities and other events for people of all ages, from battles to historic cookery, is incredibly exciting.”

The full literary programme of over 140 speakers can be found online at cvhf.org.uk.

Visitors will be able to see a scale section of a First World War trench, being built by a team of experts and local volunteers, using authentic methods and materials, official period manuals, as well as drawing upon the testimonies of those who built and fought in them.

To mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Somme, there will be a service at the Trench from 7.15am on Friday, July 1, led by the Bishop of Salisbury.

During the week, it will be possible to enter the trench as an eye-on-the-wall spectator as living historians follow the events leading up to the start of the Battle of the Somme in real time, while throughout the weekend it will be possible to witness the events as they unfolded back in 1916 from the perspective of this starting point for the battle.

The festival runs from June 27 to July 3. It is the largest festival dedicated entirely to history in the UK.