A PARTICULARLY historic Remembrance Sunday was celebrated in Beaconsfield this year, as a commemorative stone was laid in honour of Captain Francis Grenfell VC.

Adding to the poignance of the occasion was the fact that many of the Grenfell family made a trip to the town to mark the momentous occasion.

Captain Grenfell, whose twin brother, Riversdale, also fought in the war, was given the joint highest military accolade, for protecting guns from the enemy after being shot and severely wounded in August 1914.

Hundreds attended the outside Remembrance Sunday service and the one that followed, inside St. Mary’s and All Saint’ Parish Church. The town’s air cadets, scouts, guides and cubs were all on parade. after Rev Jeremy Brooks’s introduction, Lt Col Patrick Lort- Phillips read out the full citation for the VC and paid tribute to Capt Grenfell.

The Mayor of Beaconsfield Cllr Steve Jones unveiled the commemorative stone.

Floral tributes were then laid at the stone alongside Captain Grenfell’s medal board.

Two members of the 9/12th Lancers in military dress were present for the ceremony - they had travelled from Germany to be there, bringing with them the medals of Capt Grenfell kept by the regiment.

Beaconsfield Town councillor Alan Walters, who helped organise the event alongside other groups in the area, said afterwards: "It was a wonderful day and quite moving this year.

"What I was really proud about was the number of cadets that turned out and the number of cubs, scouts and brownies was huge "We went for a curry lunch afterwards organised by the World War One committee and there were over a hundred people sitting down to eat and all the (Grenfell) family were there.

"It was a really good service and a great day."

Kari Dorme, one of the organisers, said: "What a proud and historic day it was for Beaconsfield".