Veterans join Cenotaph service

Some of the remaining veterans of the First World War gathered at the Cenotaph today to remember the 90th anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict.

The four former servicemen, now over 100 years old, met for a service honouring those who died in the conflict.

They are among 23 known surviving veterans of the Great War, but the only men well enough to take part in anniversary events.

Three of the men arrived in wheelchairs, with another determined to walk unaided as the group carried wreaths to lay at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

The veterans were joined by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, Veterans Minister Ivor Caplin and Air Chief Marshal Sir Anthony Bagnall, vice chief of the defence staff.

Britain's oldest surviving veteran, Henry Allingham, 108, along with Fred Lloyd, 106, and Jack Oborne, 104, carried wreaths of poppies on their laps as they were wheeled into position for the service.

Royal Navy veteran William Stone, 103, strode behind his colleagues as they stood, and sat, under the shade of Whitehall's canopy of trees.

The veterans looked on at the hundreds of members of the public who had also gathered along the route as Big Ben chimed the hour and a military bandsman struck up the Last Post.

The four men later moved forward in unison to lay their wreaths at the base of the monument to pay tribute to the 750,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers who lost their lives during the four-year conflict.

Mr Prescott, Mr Caplin and Sir Anthony then also placed wreaths on behalf of the Queen, the Government and the Commonwealth.