WHITEHILL and Bordon is preparing to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by military personnel at this weekend’s centenary Remembrance Service.

The service will take place at the war memorial on the A325 at 10.40am on Sunday, November 11.

Organised by Whitehill Town Council, the event has seen extra touches from the community, including soldier-silhouette statues and poppy tributes around the town.

The Mayor of Whitehill Leslie Webber said: “We are privileged to have received these magnificent statues on our memorial site.

“They are a fantastic asset to be enjoyed by all, and will be especially poignant at the Service of Remembrance this Sunday, when we remember those lost. We look forward to seeing you (Herald readers) there.”

In 2017, the town council took over the organisation of the event after former organiser Steve Johnson stood down.

Following some debate, councillors agreed the best day to hold the service was November 11, having toyed with the idea of a weekday fixture to increase footfall.

But now the council and the Royal British Legion have aimed to make Sunday’s service a fitting centenary event to honour the end of the First World War and all those who have fallen in subsequent military engagements.

Town, county and district councillor Adam Carew has given more than £500 in grant funding for the special service.

“In addition to laying wreaths at our town war memorial, in Camp Road, my grant will ensure we have wreaths to lay both at the war memorial in the Bordon Military Cemetery, in Bolley Avenue, and the Canadian Services Garden, in Budds Lane, for the 100th anniversary of the Great War,” he said.

“My grant will ensure we can place a poppy cross on every grave in our military cemetery and a wreath on the Ashes Plot in memory of all those in the armed forces who served our country or made the ultimate sacrifice.”

“We are very proud of our military traditions here in Whitehill and Bordon,” he added. “And it is only right and proper that we remember all those who fought in both world wars and the conflicts since, especially those who laid down their lives for their comrades and our country.”

Mr Carew’s father fought in the Second World War, and his two grandfathers in the First World War.

He will read the roll of honour at Sunday’s centenary service which will mean a “great deal” to him and his family.