A SPECIAL exhibition has opened at a York museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

A painting depicting Yorkshire soldiers on the front line at the Somme has gone on show at York Castle Museum for the first time as part of the exhibition which focuses on the artist Arthur Radclyffe Dugmore.

An officer of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry during the First World War, he was also renowned painter, photographer and author, and the painting of his comrades is displayed alongside stories from his life.

Imperial War Museums (IWM) and York Museums Trust are also working together to show the UNESCO-listed film The Battle of the Somme to audiences across the world on Wednesday, July 6.

Shot and screened in 1916, it was the first feature-length documentary about war and changed the way cinema and film was publicly perceived.

In the year of its release around 20 million people, almost half of Britain's population, watched the film, many hoping to see a loved-one, or friend captured on film.

One hundred years later, this film from IWM’s collection is being shown at the Yorkshire Museum from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Rob Wake, collections facilitator at York Castle Museum, said: “The Battle of the Somme was the largest battle of the First World War on the Western Front and, with more than one million men killed or wounded, it was the most devastating.

“In remembrance, we will be displaying a poignant painting of the battle by Arthur Radclyffe Dugmore for the first time, along with a collection of his personal belongings.”

Lorna Hogger, curator of Fine Art at York Art Gallery, said: “Truth and Memory: British Art from the First World War is the largest exhibition of British First World War Art for almost 100 years. The major retrospective comprises of more than 60 artworks from IWM (Imperial War Museums) including some that depict the Somme battlefields.

“The Battle of the Somme film is one of the most important and significant documentations of the battle and we are honoured to be working with the Imperial War Museums (IWM) to show this to the public.”

To book a free ticket to see The Battle of the Somme visit www.yorkmuseumstrust.org.uk.