South Essex yesterday commemorated the brave soldiers who gave up their lives 100 years ago at the Battle of Passchendaele.


Events and services were held in memory of those who fought in Belgium where over half a million Allied and German troops were killed or wounded.


It was one of the bloodiest battles in history, which lasted for over three months.


One of the fiercest battles was fought near Ypres between July 31 and November 10, 1917.


St Nicholas Church in Canvey held a service last night to remember those soldiers who lost their lives.


Reverend Marion Walford underlined why it is so important we remember those who gave their lives.


Speaking before the service, she said: “It’s very difficult for us to comprehend so I thought we’d tell the story.


“A lot of Allied and German troops died and for the ones who survived, their lives changed forever.


“It’s difficult to imagine the conditions and the background that these soldiers would have faced.”


Holy Trinity Church in Rayleigh didn’t hold a service as they’re currently going through “an interim period”.


But John Banfield, of Holy Trinity, had an interesting story to tell. He said he came across a letter written by a James Aubery in 1917.


John said: “It was very small so I needed an eye glass but I eventually made sense of it.


“James Aubery is the first name on our war memorial at the church.
“It was a very moving letter and I gather his grandson still lives in the area.”


Among the many local casualties at Passchendaele was Ralf Hubert Robinson, who was a stockbroker’s clerk from Benfleet.