Communities fall silent to remember fallen soldiers in ANZAC day commemorations

The ceremony on April 23 at Durrington Cemetery was attended by about 100 people, including representatives from the Australian and New Zealand High Commissions and Royal British Legion.

The service was conducted by the Reverend Rachel Bussey and members of the Army provided Flag bearers and escorts.

Following the service children from the local schools placed flags and crosses on each grave.

The service was also attended by John Goss, a retired Queensland MP who not only the primary organiser of the service but came over from Australia to attend and lay a wreath on a relatives grave.

And on the following day children at Wylye Valley School held their own remembrance commemorations, including a service led by by Reverend Chris Kellock of the First Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, at St Mary's Church in Codford.

During the service, the children read extracts from different soldiers’ diaries. They also recalled some Anzac facts and said prayers as well as singing hymns Peace, Perfect Peace and We Will Remember.

Following the service everyone went out to the Anzac graves to observe a one minute silence in front of a soldier’s grave. A sprig of Rosemary, a symbol of remembrance, was then placed on each grave.

Reverend Kellock said: "It was a privilege as a serving army chaplain to share with the children of Wylye Valley School in their annual ANZAC remembrance service. I was really impressed with the work and effort they had put into the service – especially the personal diary accounts. It’s not easy standing up and reading in front of your school – they all did really well. To be able to relate local history to the ‘here and now’ is really important and so as we reminded ourselves of the friendship loyalty and service that these soldiers showed over 100 years ago we also thought about how we might be better friends to those around us today. Well done to Wylye Valley."