'A wonderful and moving occasion' - Cannock remembers the fallen

From the veterans who had seen war with their own eyes, to schoolchildren learning about conflict for the first time.

Young and old stood shoulder to shoulder in poignant ceremonies to mark 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War.

Former soldier Ronald Mattison, president of the Royal British Legion in Cannock praised the reverence and regard shown by all.

The 88-year-old , who saw action with the Scottish Rifles in the Rhine Crossing in 1944, said: "It went very well. Even when the parade arrived early and there was a 10-minute wait before the service began, everyone kept a respectful hush. It was a wonderful and moving occasion."

One of the younger attendees was seven-year-old Ella Howard, who took part in the parade with the 5th Cannock Brownies. Sporting a felt poppy with a black-button centre which she made herself, she said: "It was good. We were thinking about all the soldiers who died 100 years ago."

Parade marshall Bob Leighton, of the Royal Engineers Association, read the well-known verse from the poem For The Fallen, starting 'They shall not grow old' before a bugler sounded the Last Post and a two-minute silence was held.

Afterwards he said the service had been a 'fitting tribute' to those who had sacrificed their lives in the 1914-18 conflict.

Cannock Chase leader George Adamson represented the district council at the Hednesford ceremony which was followed by a service at St Peter's Church.

He said: "It was standing room only inside the church. It was particularly poignant to see so many people across the generations on this special anniversary.

"There were lots of scouts, too, so there were people there aged from nine, to ex-soldiers in their 90s, all in uniform."

Councillor Andy Lovell represented the authority at a service at St Augustine's Church in Rugeley which took place after the parade.

Large crowds also turned out in Stafford for the town's Remembrance Sunday commemorations. An open air service and wreath-laying ceremonies were held at the town's two war memorials.

This was followed by a military parade through the town centre, starting and ending in Earl Street, taking in Water Street, Mill Bank, Greengate Street, Market Square, Gaolgate Street, Stafford Street, Chapel Street and Broad Street.

Soldiers from the 22 Signal Regiment have already run and cycled their way to raising £22,000 for the Poppy Appeal.

At each ceremony across the county, members of the public also laid wreaths and individual wooden crosses in tribute to family members who had given their lives in the service of their country.

Some 5,000 people marked Remembrance Sunday at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. Organisers said the crowds were the biggest for the annual service since it opened in May 2001.

The outdoor service began with a two-minute silence at 11am.

The congregation then laid wreaths at the Armed Forces Memorial, which is a tribute to the 16,000 service men and women who have died since 1948.

The people of Bridgtown in Cannock held a remembrance parade and service last Sunday.