SWINDON fell silent yesterday in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice at Passchendaele 100 years ago.

Veterans were joined by serving officers, cadets, dignitaries and members of the public as they gathered in Regent Circus for a memorial ceremony organised by the Swindon branch of the Royal British Legion.

Wreaths and crosses were laid at the foot of the cenotaph as the crowd stood still, with heads bowed, to pay their respects to those who died in one of the most bloody and unforgiving engagements of the First World War.

Casualty estimates vary, but even the most conservative put the number of allied dead in the hundreds of thousands.

Among them was Captain Herbert Henry Williams of the 6th Wiltshire Regiment.

A teacher at Ferndale Primary School before the war, Captain Williams was killed leading his men on the right flank of Passchendaele ridge on September 20, 1917. He was just 23.

In recent months, students at Ferndale have been learning about his sacrifice and that of the 80 other men from Swindon who gave their lives100 years ago.

The artwork they produced as part of that work and the stories they researched now take pride of place on the walls of the RBL drop-in centre on Regent Street.

Among the names on the wall is Lt William Thomas Granger. He was the assistant scout master at St Paul’s Church until November 1915. By day he worked at the Great Western Railway.

But on September 18, 1917, Lt Granger was wounded in battle as he led his men at Passchendaele. He died just three days later aged only 24.

Leading the service with prayers and reflection, the Revd Trevor Day described the horror of the war as a “senseless waste of human life”.

But he said that the senselessness should not detract from the importance of remembering the individual lives - “loving and loved” as he described them, of the many men who fell.

For Phil Nobbs, vice chairman of the Swindon RBL branch, it was rewarding to see a fitting turnout for such an important occasion.

“You just can’t comprehend the numbers that were killed at Passchendaele,” he said. “It was horrendous, a lot of soldiers and animals actually drowned in the mud. It is so important that we continue to remember them.”

Branch chairman Graham Jackson added that it was vital to see the act of remembrance extended to young people.

“The First World War has moved on from living memory,” said Graham. “I’m pleased that it is being taught more in schools now, that helps.

“Young people are the future - when we come to the 125th anniversary a lot of the people here today won’t be around anymore.

“It will be up to the kids to carry it on and keep remembering. We have to look to the youth of today to carry on our legacy.”