AS the bugler sounded his horn standard bearers lowered their flags and a moment was given to the men who left a Winchester village for war.

Hursley Park Memorial saw residents, former soldiers, councillors and school children gather for the service of rededication and remembrance to pay tribute to the 18,000 men who marched to northern France on November 4-5, 1914.

Organiser Dave Key said: “100 years ago today the 8th division left Hursley Park and marched onto the port of Southampton and onto the Western Front. Their memorial still stands today and the tree that was planted with it still stands, though now somewhat larger.”

As Major Ron Cassidy MBE, who served with the Winchester 2nd battalion rifle brigade, read the names of battalions that fell John Keble School children placed wooden crosses in the ground as former soldiers saluted them.

Alan Rodbourne, 83, of Main Road in Hursley, has been keeping the memorial for 14 years.

“They went through a lot for us and if it weren't for them we wouldn't be here now,” he said. “They did everything for our generation.”

Daily Echo:

A wreath of poppies is laid at the memorial in Hursley

The Cathedral also held an event ahead of the weekend's Remembrance Day services.

Before silence befell the Close, vice chairman of the Royal British Legion Winchester branch, Stanley Judd, read the exhortation and Kings' School trumpeters Joe Peshall, 14, and Tom Toledo-Brown, 13, performed The Last Post.

Canon Roly Riem, vice-dean, said: “Let us remember, before God, they who have died for their country in war. Those who we knew and whose memory we treasure. Those who have lived and died in the service of mankind. We cannot be parted either by death or by life.”