THERE was a small gathering at the war memorial at St Breward for Armistice Day service and the two minutes’ silence was held.

Held on the village outskirts on Mine Hill, the blue skies and sunshine made for a glorious morning to remember and reflect on the many that have fallen in war.

The vicar, Rev Canon Sherry Bryan, read out a brief history of one of the village’s fallen victims, 30-year-old Frederick Chidley, as it was 100 years since he was killed at the Somme.

Frederick Chidley lived at Row, St Breward, son of Mr and Mrs Chidley of Week St Mary. He was married to Annie, daughter of Mr and Mrs Kerslake. Frederick worked for Mr W P Bolt as a waggoner and for the Co-operative Stores in St Breward. He was a quiet man and much respected.

In 1916 he enlisted at Camelford on June 16, he was aged 30 years and four months. Although training usually took six months, he was needed at the front. Trained as a bomb thrower he was killed at the Somme on the first day of the Battle of Le Transloy. The battle was considered a success.

Private Chidley was at the front for three days and has no known grave.