AS a poignant reminder of the sacrifice of those who lost their lives during the First World War, a commemorative bench has been installed in the churchyard of Holsworthy parish church adjacent to the town’s war memorial, writes Christine Williams.

It was purchased by Holsworthy Town Council thanks to funds donated by the branch of the town’s Royal British Legion.

It was unveiled by the mayor, Cllr Jon Hutchings in a short ceremony on Tuesday, July 5 and blessed by Fr Christopher Penn.

Into the wrought iron bench, which stands on a firm concrete base, silhouettes have been crafted of World War One soldiers carrying bayonets through barbed wire and five blossoming red poppies.

Following the unveiling, inside the church Fr Penn blessed a ceramic red poppy, bought by the women’s section of the RBL.

It was one of the 888,246 ceramic poppies, which had filled the moat of the Tower of London between July 17 and November 11 2014, each poppy representing a British military fatality during the war.