ROYAL British Legion members from Machynlleth will join thousands marching in France and Belgium to remember those who died in the Great War.

In the biggest membership event in its history, the Royal British Legion is recreating its 1928 pilgrimage to World War One battlefields, which will feature representatives from its Machynlleth and Tywyn branches.

A decade after the end of World War One, veterans and war widows visited the battlefields of the Somme and Ypres before marching to the Menin Gate, a grand war memorial, in Ypres on 8 August 1928.

Exactly 90 years later, thousands of Legion members will recreate the 1928 Great Pilgrimage to visit the same battlefields and then, on 8 August, carry their standards and wreaths along the same route to the Menin Gate, to commemorate the last 100 days of the Great War and represent an entire generation that served while defending their country.

Stephen Doyle, chair of the Royal British Legion Tywyn and Machynlleth branches, is “privileged and honoured” to be one of four local volunteers to head out for the poignant march.

“It’s going to be our biggest ever event, a thousand branches each taking two members, so it will be a sight to behold,” said the veteran who served with Black Watch 1st Battalion and Royal Artillery.

“Each branch will have a standard bearer and someone to hold a wreath, the wreath will remain on display for a month after the pilgrimage for the public to view.

“I’ll be heading out with Chris Thompson from the Machynlleth branch, and Roger Seagrave and Garry Lilywhite will be representing Tywyn."

If you are interested in assisting Mr Doyle and raising the profile of the World War One pilgrimage, you can phone him on 01650 511917.

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