HAILSTONES the size of marbles and lightning failed to put an end to play as a cricket match abandoned at the outbreak of the First World War was finally completed.

A link to our photo gallery of the event can be found at the bottom of this story.

A century after the first ball was bowled, the match between The Lee Cricket Club near Great Missenden and the village's Manor House was finished on Sunday, August 10 despite the tail end of Hurricane Bertha threatening to put a stop to proceedings.

The original match was abandoned on August 3, 1914, due to rain and with war being declared the following day players from both sides, expecting hostilities to be over by Christmas, said they would conclude the match when the fighting was over.

The game was never revisited after three of the players were killed in action and others were left severely injured by the fighting.

Albert Phillips and brothers Arthur and Ralph Brown, who were in The Lee's team that day, were among the 30 men from the village who lost their lives.

The names of the fallen servicemen were read out during a roll call during the tea interval of Sunday's match, which also included a minute's silence and the playing of the Last Post by a bugler.

The club's life president Elizabeth Stewart-Liberty - whose father-in-law Ivor was the captain of the original Manor House side - gave a speech to commemorate the fallen during tea.

She said: "It was a great success, well attended but very sad. It will remain in the memories as we salute those gallant men who gave their yesterdays for our tomorrows.

"It was a very emotional day and the right thing to do in memory of those men, many of whom were slain."

A minute’s silence was observed ahead of the rain-delayed match, with the players having to come off again when the heavens opened and threatened to bring an early end to the match.

Manor House batted first and reached 180-6 off 35 overs, with Neil Glasgow top scoring with 55 not out.

The Lee lost both opening batsmen cheaply and wickets fell after Richard McKeown hit 32 and Andrew Knott 41 were both dismissed. Justin Webb made a rapid 35 but the village side were all out 11 runs shy of their target.

Ed Boakes, captain of The Lee Village team, said "It means a lot to the club that we have been able to finish the game that was started 100 years ago and play it in the spirit it would have been back then. It is our way of saying thanks to the guys that went and fought for us and allowed this way of life to continue." Justin Webb added: “The whole day was a fitting tribute to the men and women of the Lee Village who were being remembered and it has been an overwhelming honour to be involved. I think they would have been proud."

Click here for our photo gallery of the event.