Historic Scotland has launched a new pilot project for primary pupils looking at the role of the north east of Scotland during the Second World War.

Its aim is to bring pupils face to face with their local experience of war, through a partnership activity programme with Aberdeenshire Council.

The activity focuses on Duff House, an 18th-century mansion near Banff, which played a key role in the area’s experiences of war. It was used to house Allied troops as well as German prisoners of war, and was hit in a bombing raid in 1940.

In the opening event, earlier this month, run by an activity leader dressed as a Second World War Highland division officer, pupils had to find physical evidence of damage from the bombing raids as well as investigate the treatment of POWs.

The activity has been inspired by information uncovered on the history of Duff House during the war, through a local history project on “What’s the war got to do with us?”. This is part of a larger nationwide initiative, “Their Past Your Future Scotland”, managed by Museums Galleries Scotland and funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

In Banffshire, members of the community have been sharing their recollections in a bid to bring young people and older residents together to capture oral histories of military conflict. This project will culminate in an online and physical exhibition at Duff House in the New Year.

www.RememberingScotlandAtWar.org.uk.

Historic Scotland’s education unit: T 0131 668 8736; www.historic- scotland.gov.ukindexlearning.htm.