TWELVE servicemen were remembered for giving their lives during the two world wars at the weekend.

There was a dedication of a war memorial, which had to be moved to the Garden of Rest in Lacey Green.

The 11 men from the First World War and the one man from the Second World War went to the Lacey Green Methodist Church as boys to the Sunday School.

Their names were on the memorial gates next to the church, but this needed to be moved when the parish council created an entrance to access the Garden of Rest, which they bought in 2006.

Parish council chairman, Cathryn Davies, who spoke at the start of the dedication service said: "The plaques were originally sandstone and they had worn away and had gone too far to use again.

"They are buried in the new pillars. The finials are from the original too."

Many people gathered at the service, including relatives of the men remembered with one travelling from North Wales.

Methodist minister, Reverend Gregory Hargrove, held the service. He said: "We remember them all. Thank God for them all and what they gave."

Carl Etholen laid a wreath on behalf of Buckinghamshire County Council as a local member.

He said: "I think it is a very special occasion, especially in light of recent events taking place with D-Day commemoration on Friday and of course the centenary of the start of World War One in August."

Alan Stones, branch chairman of the Princes Risborough British Legion, also laid a wreath, which he said "means a lot."

The branch is currently without a base, after the Royal British Legion sold the former branch's building in Bell Street.

He said: "It keeps the legion's presence here since we were unfortunate enough to lose our hall.

"People keep asking if we are still about so I am very glad to do this."

Another parish councillor called Dennis Claydon researched the history of the men who died.

Sandy Coventry attended the ceremony, as one her relatives, George Parslow, is remembered on the memorial.

She said: "It was a real thrill to just be asked [to come to the ceremony]. I met Dennis through coming up to the village hall and doing a bit more of my family history."

There were other men from the village who died in the wars- the total was 37 in the First World War and nine in the Second World War.

Vice chairman, Roger Craft, said: "When you think about what was here in Lacey Green all those years ago it would have been a major effect on the community."