A MAJOR county-wide service to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War will be held in Worcester later this month.
Based on military tradition, a Drumhead service is a religious service conducted in the field during conflict and in peacetime, with neatly-piled drums draped with flags creating a makeshift altar.
The service will be held on Saturday, September 15 in Gheluvelt Park.
The acclaimed Band of the Grenadier Guards will be performing at the Drumhead service to remember Worcestershire’s armed forces who fought for our country 100 years ago.
Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Lt Col Patrick Holcroft, said: “The Drumhead service will be a poignant act of remembrance for those men and women of Worcestershire who died fighting for their country. I very much hope that residents of Worcestershire will join us for this service.
“During the conflict, Drumhead services were held in the trenches and in public parks in Britain and holding this service in the memorial park built to honour those who bravely fought and lost their lives, is a fitting opportunity for our county to come together in a joint commemoration.”
The Grenadier Guards are one of the most senior infantry regiments in the British Army.
The Band of the Grenadier Guards was formed by King Charles II in 1685. They have served 15 monarchs and have been present at all major royal occasions.
The service will be led by Rt Revd Graham Usher, the Bishop of Dudley, with participation by other faith groups. The service will start with a procession by all the chairmen and mayors of the districts and towns. Local Armed Forces, British Legion groups, Cadets, Scouts, Guides, police, will all be participating.
The event is part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Worcestershire World War One Hundred programme.
The final part of the ceremony will be to create a spectacle of ceramic poppies, purchased by people across the county after the Tower of London art installation in 2014, and brought to Gheluvelt Park for the day.
The service is open to all to attend. Visitors are requested to be present by noon and the service will start at 12.30pm
The Worcestershire World War One Hundred programme is one the largest programmes of events across England commemorating the First World War involving cultural and heritage organisations County-wide, the programme has run since 2014.
Visit www.ww1worcestershire.co.uk for more information.
