The Great War (1 in a series)

I was struck by the number of giant red poppies which have appeared this morning as we celebrate the centenary of the start of war in 1914.

The Dormansland Memorial Hall was opened on Saturday 9 October 1920 by Lord Horne GCB KCMG. The principle organiser for the building of the hall was William Augustus Edmund St Clair JP, CMG. The War Memorial records 49 deaths. Today the village has a population of just under 2,000. For a village, then half its present size, this level of loss must have had a tremendous impact.

This is perhaps reflected in the scale of the opening ceremony. There was a Guard of Honour and a Colour Party from the 4th Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, the Dormansland Town Band along with the Pipes and Drums of the Royal Caledonian Schools .