IN 1922, soldiers who returned to Eynsham after fighting in the First World War foun-ded a social and sports club.

The wooden hut, later replaced by a brick building, was built as a memorial to those who had been less fortunate and died in the Great War.

Now the club, which last weekend held an exhibition to commemorate the centenary of the war, will display a map for the next four years, showing where each of those soldiers lived in the village.

Eynsham Social and Sports Club treasurer Mike Cross, 66, said: “When I heard there was going to be a war exhibition I said this was the right place to host it.

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“It was a memorial to their colleagues who did not return from the war.

“There’s no commemorative plaques but it has a clear link to remembrance of the men.

“The map is also a great way to show people the fates of those from Eynsham who served and how the village was affected.”

The 1914 memorial map already includes two pins.

About 100 people visited last weekend’s exhibition, held by the Eynsham History Group, on Saturday, October 18 and Sunday, October 19.

It included biographies and photographs of about 50 soldiers included in the village war memorial, as well as about 20 others who were either from outside the village but relatives of current residents or villagers who survived the war.

History group chairman Martin Harris, 47, lives in Botley but two of his relatives, included in the exhibition, lived in the village and survived.

His grandfather George Harris was a carpenter in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and his great-grandfather Private Ernest Harris was in the Army Veterinary Corps.

Mr Harris said: “I wanted to include the whole community so they could all take part.

“Some of the stories were just so moving and it was a chance to inform and educate people.”

There were also artefacts, including medals, first aid books, trench art and knives, on display.

Most of the displays have now gone into storage but more general items will be used for an exhibition at St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Botley from Thursday, November 13 to Sunday, November 16.

Surviving soldiers from Eynsham formed the Soldiers and Sailors Club, later renamed as the Eynsham branch of the Comrades of the Great War, when they returned. They then used funds from the parish council to build the hut, in Swan Street, four years after the war.

It was previously known as the Eynsham Institute and used socially by men to play games share newspapers, read books and play games such as billiards.

A women’s section was in a different room.

The building was later renamed and at one point had 850 members, but closed briefly in 2009 due to financial difficulties.

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