A BOOK about how a Denbighshire town was affected during the First World War, accepted Belgian refugees, the role of its working women and the times it was visited by Prime Minister David Lloyd George has been published.

Drawing a conclusion to Denbigh's commemoration of the war's centenary anniversary, copies of the book, titled 'Denbigh's Great War - A Time of Change', which is written primarily for secondary school aged children, were delivered to every Denbigh High School pupil on April 1 with the aim of encouraging young people to pursue their own research into their town’s experience of 'the war to end all wars'.

Some of the 4,000 copies published have also been delivered to St Brigid’s School, Ysgol Bryn Hyfryd, Ysgol Plas Brondyfryn, Ysgol Glan Clwyd and Myddleton College.

The book was commissioned by the Denbigh Events Group, chaired by Catherine Jones, mayor of Denbigh, who obtained a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for its publication. The group chose the Denbigh Community Archive to carry out its research and writing over a nine-month period.

Chapters within the book's 50 pages include ‘Army Camps in Denbigh’, ‘Prisoners of War’ and ‘Post-war Celebrations’. It also discusses how music helped understand the meaning of the war and shows original documents such as photographs and letters from the front.

Cllr Jones said she was “blown away” upon her first reading of the book. She said: “The book was intended to stimulate young people to research further into the effects of the war on Denbigh and posed several questions for them to think about the way it changed peoples’ lives and the place that they lived.

“The research, hard work and time put into this was outstanding by the volunteers of the archive group. It is their first publication and has resulted from all of the materials kindly lent and donated to them over the last ten years including photographs, books, information and stories, leaflets, film and audio.

“When I first saw the book, I was blown away by the front photo, showing the towns people and soldiers. Also, if you look closely you can see the Town Hall being built in the background. Then when I started reading I was taken aback by the stories and the facts I learned about our wonderful town during the war.

“To me this book is a fantastic resource to look back at our ancestors' amazing contribution to the First World War. I can honestly say it has turned out so much better than I ever dreamed it would.

“The books have now been donated to schools and other community groups, and those that are left will be made available to the people of Denbigh.”