TWO permanent reminders of the sacrifice and bravery of the two world wars were dedicated as, across the Forest and Wye Valley, thousands of people turned out to pay tribute and mark 100 years since the end of the ’war to end all wars’.

World War One-inspired benches were dedicated at Berry Hill Rugby Club and at St Briavels as part of Remembrance weekend.

Across the Forest and Wye Valley, the number of people turning out to pay their respects appeared particularly high this year.

The bench at Berry Hill RFC remembers the five former players who were killed during the two world wars.

Some 35 members of the club visited the battlefields of Belgium and France in the summer and they were inspired by a bench they saw at the Welsh national memorial near Ypres.

At the unveiling of the bench, opening remarks by club president Roger Prickett were followed by a blessing by Rev Alan Wearmouth and Last Post played by Becky Aston.

Following the ceremony, the club played a game against a Forest combination XV.

The bench at St Briavels was paid for by the local parish council and remembers the bravery of Vice-admiral Alfred Carpenter who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions near the Belgian port of Zeebrugge in 1918.

This bench was given by the parish council and is going to be set in the playing field.

Matt Rees, the pastor of St Briavels Congregational Church, who led the Remembrance service at the memorial gates to the village playing fields, said: "This bench was given by the parish council and is going to be set in the playing field.

"What a contrast with the horrors and chaos of war - a place to watch the children play, to gather with friends and a spot to sit and reflect on the sacrifices made by so many in order to preserve our freedoms."

Forest MP Mark Harper joined the Mayor of Cinderford Cllr Roger Sterry at the head of the parade through the town - but there were a couple of famous faces in the crowd.

Controversial politician Neil Hamilton and his TV personality wife Christine were in Cinderford to lay a wreath in honour of Mr Hamilton’s cousin, Captain Alfred Llewellyn Hale who lived in the town and was killed in July 1918.

Mayor of Coleford, Nick Penny, said: "The parade and service on Sunday were without a doubt the largest that Coleford has seen and a credit to all those who attended.

"Particular thanks must go to the youngsters from Coleford St John’s Academy, Berry Hill Primary School and Five Acre’s High School."

At Lydbrook, Last Post and Reveille were played for the 57th consecutive year by Robert Morgan of Lydbrook.

This year it was sounded on a bugle made in 1914, first used by bugler George Medcroft of The Pludds.

Members of the Newent branch of the British Legion, serving members of the armed forces and other guests enjoyed an Armistice Day meal of roast beef casserole followed by apple crumble and custard courtesy of Newent Memorial Hall and its committee.

It followed the act of Remembrance and service at St Mary’s Church and was provided by ladies of the committee with ingredients donated by a local butcher and other well-wishers.

Some 400 people gathered on the recreation ground in Tutshill for an act of Remembrance following a parade from St Luke’s Church, which included a number of uniformed youth groups such as the Scouts and Brownies.

A large number of people were at Whitecroft for the annual service and parade from the Miners Arms to the village memorial hall led by Pillowell Silver Band and standard bearer Ian Howells.

The service was led by Rev Denise Hargreaves and Last Post and Reveille sounded by cornet player Elodie Gwynn. Wreaths were laid by service organiser Barry Jessop, Paul Roberts of Whitecroft Hall, Mike Burns for the garden of remembrance and Dave Kent of West Dean Parish Council.

In Chepstow, the local branch of the Round Table put up large poppies showing the names of the 83 men from the town who were killed.

Branch chair Simon Hicks said: "Round Table is an organisation for young men and those who did not return were just like us, this makes commemorating their sacrifice all the more important to us.

"Given this year marks 100 years since the end of hostilities in the First World War we wanted to do something special. 

"The poppies were the idea of one of our members and the town council gave us permission to put them on the railings."

There was also a display of poppies near the war memorial which was organised by the Green Man backpackers hostel.

Chepstow Poppy Appeal organiser Sandra Bushell wore an original piece of First World War uniform. Marching with the British Legion, she wore a Royal Navy scarf which belonged to her grandfather who served on several ships during the First World War.

Newport East MP Jessica Morden and the area’s Assembly Member, John Griffiths laid wreaths at Caldicot’s recently restored town cross.

Each year in the town there is a Remembrance parade and a service at St Mary’s Church in the morning and a ’sunset service’, organised by Caldicot Town Council, at the cross in the afternoon.

In Monmouth, two men dressed as Tommies stood with heads bowed in front of the town’s war memorial where, as part of the service, the original declaration of peace read by the then mayor was read out.

Over 8,200 hand-knitted poppies were also on display outside the town’s Shire Hall.