BRAINTREE District Museum will be marking centenary of the Battle of the Somme by helping to remember some local heroes.

Over two and a half million men volunteered between August 1914 and December 31st 1915, including Robert Ratcliff from Bocking - who enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment during World War One.

George Leonard Smoothy from Chapel Hill, Braintree, also signed up to the war effort and joined the 2nd Battalion.

Both men fought and died in the battle on July 1 1916, along with 72,000 others.

Corporal George Edmund Baines, who was a teacher at Manor Street School in Braintree, where the museum is now based, lead his men to attack a German defensive position known as the Boars Head – all part of a campaign to divert attention from the planned attack on the Somme.

After fighting bravely, the attack eventually failed and Corporal Baines was fatally wounded and died on July 2 1916.

The museum are urging people to remember these three brave young men who gave their lives during the war.

Polly Redman, Marketing and Retail Officer, said: “Although we can no longer shake their hands and personally thank them for their sacrifices we can remember them and we feel that Braintree District Museum is a perfect location to do that”.

The museum are on the lookout for any relatives of the men to get in touch and help them record more memories.

More details about the museum’s collection of World War One artefacts can be found at the Museum or on the website at www.braintreemuseum.co.uk.