THE Princess Royal will attend a service to celebrate the centenary of Britain’s oldest war memorial which sits in Stroud.

Woodchester Wayside Cross will be 100-years-old this June and relatives of the soldiers whose names are on the memorial will be invited as guests of honour to the service of rededication.

The Lord Lieutenant, the High Sherriff and many other local dignitaries will be in attendance.

School children from all the local schools will be present to lay flowers at the memorial and there will be representatives from the Royal British Legion, Scouts, Guides, Navy, Army and Air Cadets.

The Wayside Cross was erected in 1917, two years after the idea was conceived in 1915.

Originally there were not enough funds available to make the cross but local people gave subscriptions generously having lost someone close or simply feeling grief for the people who had.

There are 140 men whose names are on the memorial and these include a Victoria Cross, three Military Crosses, two Military Medals, and a Distinguished Conduct Medal.

These men served in over fifty Regiments or Corps from across the country and overseas including Australia, Canada, South Africa and France.

There are also men from the Navy and the Air Force and of course many from the regiments of Gloucestershire.

Originally the idea was to remember those who lived in Woodchester and the Stroud valleys, but it was felt that a memorial should be visible not only to the grieving but others travelling between Stroud and Nailsworth.

The service will take place on Saturday, June 10 and it is hoped over 5000 people will turn up to pay their respects.

Organisers are also hoping that long lost relatives of those on the memorial will attend the service.

For more information go to Woodchester Parish Council’s website - www.woodchesterparish.org.uk.