AS the bugle sounded standard bearers lowered their flags and a moment was given to the men who left a Winchester village for war.

Villagers, former soldiers, councillors and school children gathered at Hursley Park Memorial for the service of rededication and remembrance in tribute to the 18,000 men who marched to France on November 4-5 1914.

Organiser Dave Key said: “100 years ago today the 8th division left Hursley Park and marched onto the port of Southampton and onto the Western Front.

"Their memorial still stands today and the tree that was planted with it still stands, though now somewhat larger.”

He read out a poem written by Lt Henry Simpson, of the 1st battalion Lancashire Regiment, who was treated at Hursley House when it was a makeshift hospital.

“The quiet sun on quiet trees/will bring back flocking memories/of the old ways and old friends/and so, still this English autumn ends.”

As Major Ron Cassidy, who served with the Rifle Brigade, read the names of battalions that fell John Keble School children placed wooden crosses in the ground.

Maj Cassidy concluded the ceremony with the Kohima epitaph: “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today.”

Alan Rodbourne, 83, of Main Road, Hursley, has been keeping the memorial for 14 years.

“They went through a lot for us and if it weren’t for them we wouldn’t be here now,” he said.

“They did everything for our generation.”

The Cathedral also held an event ahead of the weekend’s Remembrance Day services. There is a traditional service at 10am and an Act of Commemoration at 11am.

Before silence befell the Close, vice chairman of the Royal British Legion Winchester branch, Stanley Judd, read the exhortation.

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”

Kings’ School trumpeters Joe Peshall, 14, and Tom Toledo-Brown, 13, performed The Last Post.

Canon Roly Riem, vice-dean, said: “Let us remember, before God, they who have died for their country in war. Those who we knew and whose memory we treasure.

"Those who have lived and died in the service of mankind. We cannot be parted either by death or by life.”

Members of the Royal British Legion planted crosses adorned with poppies at a roped off area dedicated to the fallen.

Usually, the mayor attends but Cllr Eileen Berry was not there.

On Tuesday, November 11, there will be a two minute silence at the Cathedral at 11am.