THE centenary of the death of the son and heir to the Stourhead Estate who was wounded in the First World War is being commemorated.

Harry Hoare was fatally wounded in battle at Mughar Ridge and to mark the anniversary the National Trust team at Stourhead have handcrafted a remembrance tide of more than 400 poppies which are on display in the house, restaurant and in the Temple of Flora in the garden.

On a memorial wall in the Temple of Flora, visitors to the property are invited to leave their own memories of loved ones who have lost their lives through war.

Harry signed up with the Dorset Yeomanry three days prior to the First World War being declared on August 4, 1914.

His regiment travelled to Egypt in 1915 but he was shipped to Malta later that year suffering from double pneumonia and para typhoid.

He re-joined his regiment in July 1916 when they were posted to Palestine. He was wounded in March 1917, and by August of that year was advised that his heart was unfit for the strains of active service.

Despite his poor heart, he continued fighting and returned to the front and was shot through the lungs during the attack on the Mughar Ridge on November 13, 1917. He died on December 19 at Raseltin Hospital and was laid to rest in Hadra Military Cemetery.

Following Harry’s death, in 1946 his parents Sir Henry Hoare and Lady Alda gave Stourhead to the National Trust to care for and look after.

Visitor services officer Charlotte Toop said: “This wonderful way to commemorate the life of Harry falls at the end of our core season and is a poignant finale to the current presentation of Harry’s story at Stourhead.

“Many visitors have loved finding out about the lives of the family that lived here, and Harry’s Story touches many of our visitors as they too have been affected by loss as a result of war.”

A peal of bells will be rung from St Peters, Stourton, on Monday afternoon (13 November) to commemorate Harry.