Many of us may not know much about our ancestors who risked their lives on the home front in the First World War.

We may have seen an old photograph or heard a story about loved ones who lived many years before, but students at Platt Church of England Primary School remembered their antecedents in a unique and touching way to mark the centenary of the beginning of the First World War.

School parent and photographer for the project, Scott Wishart, helped the children make a connection between themselves and their relatives who had seen service in uniform by asking them to find family photographs from the period so they could take part in a special photography project.

Mr Wishart, father of Edith, Alexander and May, who all attend the school in Maidstone Road, set up a small studio for a day and asked students to stand with their pictures.

He said: “Some of the photographs children turned up to the shoot with were over a hundred years old.

"Despite the passing of several generations, the response was fantastic, with a number of parents contacting quite distant relatives for information just so their children could be involved.”

Some pupils turned up to be photographed with memorabilia such as medals, official documents and articles of uniform.

“Although unknown to them only a few weeks before, the children proudly posed with their photographs" - Scott Wishart

Mr Wishart, 42, added: “Although unknown to them only a few weeks before, the children proudly posed with their photographs.

"We wanted the children to begin to understand how this period in history affected almost everyone in the country.

“Following the photoshoot one grandparent commented that she felt feel quite touched that her granddad’s great great grandchildren even knew about him.

"Others, upon seeing their children and grandchildren’s portraits, said they also found the experience quite emotional.”

The proud father’s three children held a picture of his Great Grandfather who was killed in action in 1918.

He added: “I’m very proud of what we have achieved.”

After viewing the project, a parent at Platt Primary School messaged Mr Wishart, they said: "I'm sat on the 8.03 to Victoria and your work has just moved me to tears.

"It’s simplicity and the way you have photographed the children is absolutely brilliant and a fitting tribute.”

As well as producing this project, Mr Wishart, of Maidstone Road in Wrotham Heath, has been active in the Great War Centenary commemorations through personal, professional and community projects.

He is part of the local war memorial steering group, and for the last four years has been researching the names of everyone bearing his surname worldwide who saw overseas service between 1914 and 1919.

Another parent at the school said: "What an absolute superb piece of work, it truly brought a tear to my eye and is something to be very proud of. Inspirational!"

See the full project here: http://www.platt.kent.sch.uk/about_us/ww1_centenary_album1