HUNDREDS of people packed Malmesbury Abbey on Sunday afternoon for a Remembrance Service in honour of more than 100 men from the town who lost their lives in both world wars.

The names of all of the fallen were read out during a service led by Canon Neill Archer.

It was especially poignant this year as a Wiltshire Wall of Remembrance had been installed in the abbey’s South Aisle. It bears crosses remembering all those who died in World War One from Malmesbury, Calne, Wootton Bassett, Corsham and Chippenham “The abbey was absolutely full. It was very moving service,” said Chairman of the Malmesbury branch of the Royal British Legion Derek Tilney.

Earlier on Sunday there was a large gathering at the town’s recently refurbished World War Two Memorial Gates when families of men who died during the conflict were among those who laid wreaths.

They included relatives of Horace Hulse (correct), who perished during the Normandy landings and whose burial place is unknown, and Reg Bailey who was lost when his Lancaster bomber was brought down over Holland.

Malmesbury resident Maitland Woodward also laid a wreath on behalf of two of his uncles, Arthur and William Woodward who were among six brothers from the town who fought in World War Two.

Many of the wreaths presented at Malmesbury Abbey were later laid around the war memorial at the Triangle which honours local men who died during World War One.

Meanwhile, around 400 people gathered in the drizzle at an open-air Remembrance Day Service outside the village church at nearby Sherston where a bugle was sounded from the top of the church tower.

Among them were many villagers from Easton Grey which doesn’t have its own Remembrance Sunday service.

Last year it was decided to hold the Sherston service in the open air because the church is not big enough for all of those who wished to pay their respects.

A road was obtained in order to stage the event.

The Wiltshire Wall of Remembrance can be seen at the Abbey until Sunday, November 15.