Helston Museum's new World War One exhibition will throw light on the lives of women carrying out war work with the display of two rarely seen artefacts belonging to local women.

As part of the new Women in the First World War exhibition, the Helston WWI Heritage Project will show the public an autograph book which belonged to a local Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse, Olive May Bowden of Porthleven, and which she took with her while nursing during the First World War.

The project secretary, Martine Knight, said: "The autograph book, which was unknown outside of the family until now, contains many beautiful sketches, poems and tributes – all written by soldiers she nursed, or their family members.

"This along with excerpts being displayed from a diary, which belonged to a group leader for the local Women’s Land Army, and which has been languishing unseen in the archives of the Imperial War Museum, provide a fascinating insight into aspects of local women’s lives during the First World War.

"Together with other displays, artefacts and important paintings, loaned by local organisations and individuals, our exhibition is unique – both locally and further afield – in providing an opportunity for visitors to expand their understanding of this vital part of our First World War heritage."

The owner of the autograph book will be at the exhibition opening, which will take place at Helston Museum at 10am today (2/11).