ST MARY’S Church in Bramshott was again filled to capacity for this year’s Remembrance Sunday service, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele, which was fought from July to November 1917.

In attendance were civic dignitaries, district and parish councillors, members of Liphook Scouts and Guides, as well as Armed Forces personnel.

Georgina Clark had the honour of leading the procession of standards into the church, carrying the Union flag, followed by Bob Hall, with the Royal British Legion Standard, accompanied by fellow RBL member Chris Wright. The Liphook branch was represented by Lt Col James Jack, Col John Boyd and Sgt Alan Davies.

The Scouts’ Standard was carried by Isaac Garford, the Cub Standards by Jacob Garford, Eloise Winman and Sam Hesslemen, while Eve Western carried the 1st Rangers’ Standard, Caitlin Boyce the 1st Guides’, Page Anderson the 2nd Guides’ and Sophie Allington the Brownies’ Standard.

Hymns for the service included Praise My Soul, The King of Heaven, O God, Our Help in Ages Past, Dear Lord and Father of mankind. A two-minute silence was observed at 11am.

Readings were given by First Scout Emile Brunet, Sgt Alan Davies and Nigel Ramage, while Rev Valentine Inglis-Jones conducted the service and minister Alan Geddess spoke about the Battle of Passchendaele, when over a period of three months, the lives of 325,000 men of the Allied forces were lost as well as the lives of 260,000 German soldiers.

He reminded the congregation that since 1900 continuous wars have been fought across the world and since then 76 million people had lost their lives in such conflicts.

The National Anthem was followed by the Roll of Honour, before the procession moved to the war memorial. Once everyone had gathered there, wreaths were laid by Chris Wright for the RBL, for the parish council by vice-chairman Jeanette Kirby, for East Hampshire District Council by Angela Glass and Bill Mouland and for Hampshire Fire Service by Jed Meekins.

The Last Post and Reveille were played by Chucher’s College student Peter Hindson and the exhortations were read by Lt Col James Jack.