Theresa May attends service to commemorate those who died in the Battle of the Somme

A special service commemorating those who fell in the Battle of the Somme was held at All Saints Church yesterday (Sunday).

During the service, which was attended by more than 100 people including the Home Secretary and Maidenhead MP Theresa May, a letter written by a South African solider who trained in Maidenhead was read out.

Lieutenant John Walton Bamber was sent to Maidenhead with his men in January 1915 and during his stay he met and fell in love with a woman from Castle Hill.

The letter, addressed to his fiancée Doris Anderson, was read during the service and the names of all 21 men from the All Saints Boyne Hill parish and 10 from the Bray parish who died during the battle were read out.

The service lasted for one hour at the church in Boyn Hill Road and a wreath was laid in the garden afterwards.

Ray Williams, from the Royal British Legion said: “It’s right to remember the men who died, almost 100 years to the day, by name, regiment and area."