A SHORT service and commemoration was held to mark the 100th anniversary of the Cowes War Memorial.

Present on Saturday, March 27, was the mayor of Cowes, Cllr Lora Peacy-Wilcox, Rev Andrew Poppe, Rev Elizabeth Moxley and 'Taff’ Jones, chair of the Cowes RBL, alongside three members of its other members.

On March 30, 1921, the war memorial was unveiled by Major General JEB Seely and dedicated by the vicar of Holy Trinity Church to the memory of all who lost their lives during the First World War from Cowes.

Originally positioned at the junction of High Street and Market Hill in the town, the memorial comprised of a square column of dressed Cornish granite standing four metres tall, with a carved union flag draped over the top.

Damaged during an air-raid on the night of May 4/5, 1942, the memorial was relocated to Northwood Park where it was reinstated in its partially demolished state and re-dedicated on November 11, 1951, to also include the memory of all who died during the Second World War.

At the service, one of its attendees said: “And so we stand here today to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the raising of this memorial to the memory of Cowes lives sacrificed in the service of our country, and those traumatised and injured in conflict down the years.

"May we have such a devotion to justice and freedom that the heroism of all who fought, and still fight, may continue to be remembered at this place in a nation of service and in a world of peace.”