Truro Cathedral is inviting members of the public to add their World War I family stories to a memorial book marking the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.

The book, which is called Assembly, has some 174,000 names of those from the UK and Ireland who specifically lost their lives in Belgium in World War One, and will be touring venues in Britain before being taken to Belgium.

The work is the concept of Derbyshire artist Val Carman who was the first artist in residence at the In Flanders Fields Museum in 1999, and who also worked on a commemorative residency in Passchendaele.

Val said: “You may find a name that you recognise in the book, but, we would be pleased to receive all stories connected with World War I from your family, or community. Alternatively, you can write your story at home and bring it to the venue, and we will put it into the book for you. As well as stories, photocopies of photographs and original letters can also be added.”

The first day of the Battle of the Somme was the costliest in British military history with nearly 20,000 dead and a further 57,000 wounded. It became the largest battle of the First World War on the Western Front; more than one million men were killed or wounded, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history.

‘Assembly’ will visit over 15 significant sites during the five year journey, including Durham, Glasgow, The Outer Hebrides, Northern Ireland, Norwich and Dublin.

Along with the book are five chairs from St Audomarus Church, Passchendaele, each representing a year of the war and showing the casualties with lead numbers.

Val added: “This assembly of stories from different sources, including, local regiments, relatives and communities, will tell a united story of loss and tragedy. This project is important because after a 100 years it renews the strong bond that exists between Belgium and the British Isles through this accessible and symbolically important community art project.”

In 2018 the book and chairs will be returned to Belgium, the chairs back to the church and the book to the museum, where it will go on permanent display.

The memorial book and chairs will be on display at Truro Cathedral until August 31.