Drum Head Service at West Clandon To Mark Start of WWI

Published on: 5 Aug, 2014
Updated on: 7 Aug, 2014

The West Clandon Branch of the Royal British Legion held a drum head service on the village’s recreation ground to commemorate the centenary of the start of the First World War on Sunday, August 3.

Members of the combined cadet force from Reeds School.

The service, which was held to mark the last day of peace in 1914, was led by the Rev’d Barnaby Perkins, the rector of East and West Clandon, and attended by 150 villagers from both parishes.

The service was attended by the Mayor of Guildford, David Elms, and the names of the 40 soldiers from both villages, who lost their lives on the battlefields of Flanders, were read out by the Earl of Onslow.

The Rev’d Barnaby Perkins led the service.

The soldiers were each remembered by a small wooden cross that were placed in miniature garden of remembrance outside West Clandon Village Hall.

Other guests at this unusual service were two representatives from the Chelsea Pensioners and a drumming display was given be members of the Combined Cadet Force of Reeds School, Cobham.

The flags are received during the service.

Reveille was sounded at the close of the service and the Kohima prayer said by Peter May, the president of the West Clandon branch of the Royal British Legion.