THOUSANDS of primary school children from more than 100 schools across Wiltshire have been creating special crosses to remember First World War soldiers from their own communities for an event in Tidworth later this month.

The cardboard crosses, adorned with a poppy and the name of a local soldier, will be placed on a wall of remembrance at a special countywide event to commemorate the sacrifice made by 10,000 Wiltshire soldiers during the First World War.

The Wiltshire Council and Ministry of Defence-organised First World War Commemoration Event on 30 July at Tidworth Military Cemetery will give communities across the county the opportunity to remember the fallen soldiers in a fitting way.

Anyone can attend the service of remembrance and reflect on the huge sacrifice made by so many from Wiltshire.

Tidworth Military Cemetery, which contains burials of both wars, was directly connected with training grounds on, or near, Salisbury Plain.

There are 417 First World War graves, many of them Australian or New Zealand servicemen, 106 Second World War graves and 40 war graves of other nationalities.

Wiltshire Council leader Jane Scott said: “I’d like to thank the many schoolchildren who have taken time out of their usual school day to research and think about people from their own communities who were involved in the First World War.”

Brigadier Piers Hankinson Commander 43 (Wessex) Brigade said: “The Tidworth Military Cemetery, which contains burials of both wars, will be a superb setting for our collective inter-community remembrance and reflection.”

Throughout this period of remembrance of the First World War, Wiltshire Council will be working with the MoD on a number of projects and initiatives.

Many communities will be hosting their own events and the council and the MoD want to raise awareness of these and provide support where required. The council will also help people research the war to help educate on the impact of it on the county.

Parking for the event will be in a field adjacent to the cemetery and will be clearly signposted on the day.