The centenary commemorations of the end of World War I drew huge crowds to processions, ceremonies and exhibitions throughout the towns of Wiltshire.

The High Street in Royal Wootton Bassett was lined with families watching wreaths being placed on the town’s war memorial.

Eric Wilson, 89, who served in Korea in 1950, was there to remember his comrades. He said: “You had to be there to know all about it. You tell people and they’ll look at you in amazement. It’s so bad people don’t believe you. But all the veterans they’ve all been there and lived through that.

“You think of all those you went with who didn’t come back, you lose your friends, but there’s nothing you can do about that.”

Bob Edgington, 81, from Royal Wootton Bassett, said: “It’s a bigger turnout than everybody expected. It can’t be forgotten, that level of sacrifice, just to keep us all safe.”

A veteran standard bearer from the Royal British Legion collapsed during the ceremony, to gasps from the crowd. He managed to recover while a member of the public held the flag. “He’s alright, said Bob, “I think he was more embarrassed than anything.”

Chris Wannell added: “I’m so proud that so many people of the town turned out, especially the young people. They have the future in their hands and my feeling is the moment we forget the Great War, that’s the moment another becomes imminent.”

In Corsham, personnel from MOD Corsham and the Royal British Legion, as well as councillors, youth groups and the Corsham Band took part in a parade, following a service of remembrance, from St Bartholomew's church along the High Street to the war memorial in Lacock Road for a ceremony and the laying of wreaths.

Sharon Thomas, head of community services at Corsham Town Council, said:

"Every year we seem to get an increase in the number of people attending, but this year was the biggest yet. This year the centenary encouraged more to come."

In the afternoon, a new exhibition opened in the Town Hall exploring life in Corsham during World War I and a special service at St Bart's recreated the spontaneous service of celebration for the close of the war, which took place a hundred years ago.

The old wooden war memorial, long lost but rediscovered, restored and returned to St Bart's, was honoured with poppy wreaths laid by Coun Ruth Hopkinson, chair of the Corsham Commemorates and Coun Steve Abbott, chair of Corsham Town Council.