TO MARK the centenary of one of history’s bloodiest battles, a range of remembrance events are to be held across the county.

Put on by Hampshire County Council to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War One, the special programme will run through November.

Starting on November 6, ‘Dearest John: A First World War Story’ will be held at Hampshire Records Office in Winchester. The event will include readings and presentations, bringing to life the letters of Winchester’s John Baines, a young officer in the Royal Engineers. The event will start at 6pm.

On November 9, a special projection of cascading poppies will be screened on the Great Hall, Winchester from 6-10pm. This will be followed by a concert the following day (November 10) including 20th century wartime and swing tunes at the Royal Victoria Country Park Chapel in Netley – a former military hospital. This will take place at 3pm and 7pm.

The county will then fall silent to mark Armistice Day on Sunday, November 11. A special Service of Remembrance will be held at Winchester Cathedral at 10am. The Royal British Legion will also be holding a Festival of Remembrance at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, that evening.

The following day, November 12, the Countess of Wessex will visit the Royal Victoria Country Park to officially open the restored Chapel, just a few months after its £3.5 million restoration.

To finish off the events programme, a Peace and Reconciliation Concert at Romsey Abbey will be held on November 17. This will feature the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra accompanying a choir of young musicians from Giessen, Germany.

Authority leader, Councillor Roy Perry, said: “Every year, towns and villages across the county join others worldwide in falling silent to mark Armistice Day on Remembrance Sunday. This year’s events take on a special significance as the 100th anniversary of the ceasefire approaches.

“Even 100 years on, we can still feel how Hampshire was changed by the Great War; the tremendous losses during the war, and the years of hardship that followed, all left their mark.

“It is fitting that we now remember the courage of those who fought in the conflict, their sacrifices, and those of their families, loved ones and communities at home.”