MORE than 150 people attended a ceremony in Charlton, near Pershore, to commemorate the ending of the First World War 100 years ago and to remember those from the village who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Nine silhouettes of soldiers, awarded to Charlton by the Armed Forces Covenant Trust, were placed in the pews to represent  each individual young lad of the village who did not return from the war, “there but not there”.

The commemoration was preceded by a detailed  talk given by Julian Hawley on the stories of each of these young men who fell, their homes and families, lives before the war, the battles they fought in and how they died.

Family members of several of the fallen were in attendance. Edward Witchard of the Royal Navy, who died in the Battle of Jutland in 1916, was represented by 11 of his family, many of whom had travelled considerable distances to be there. Some of them had never actually met before but the desire to pay respects to their relative had brought them together once again, as a family, in the village in which he grew up. The families of Albert Beale who died at Gallipoli and brothers Reginald and Arthur Hawker who both died were also well represented.

After an appropriate introduction, the name, regiment and age of each of the fallen was read out by a Charlton villager, seated by the appropriate silhouette.

All were in their twenties or younger. Wreaths were then laid on the war memorial by Sgt Nathan Hinchey of the British Army and PCSO Chris Tugwell from the local community police force. The principal wreath was then laid by the niece of Albert Beale.

The occasion was organised by Julian Hawley and Brian Coleman of Help for Heroes.

The proceeds of the collection have been divided between the Royal British Legion and Help for Heroes