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St Alban's Church, St Alban's Road, Dartford, hoping to reveal more stories of the fallen

Do you know these war heroes? A church is looking for the families of 200 men who will be honoured at a church in Dartford this weekend.

During a service on Sunday at St Alban’s Church, St Alban’s Road, Dartford, the names will be read of the men who lost their lives during the First World War.

Denis Rayment, 89, first came up with the idea of honouring the fallen in this way at the Remembrance Day service.

The church is appealing for information on 200 men who died during conflict.
The church is appealing for information on 200 men who died during conflict.

People from as far afield as Australia and British Columbia have got in touch with him to tell their relatives’ stories.

Mr Rayment’s wife, Patricia, helped him compile the list of names from a plaque inside the church.

She said: “We didn’t know how we would get them off, we took a video camera and some binoculars in the hope something would be successful.”

Mrs Rayment then plugged the camera into her television and printed off the names one by one.

Of her husband, she said: “He never stops until he sees it through. He will never give up and try until the bitter end.”

Mr Rayment has a personal interest in the campaign as his father and his uncles all fought in the First World War.

One of his uncles was taken prisoner in the second battle of Ypres, came back with shellshock and became a tramp. The other was killed in the war.

Mr Rayment’s father was also seriously injured three weeks before the end of war. They are looking for other relatives to come forward and write their stories so the church can honour them.

Denis Rayment, Rev David Helms and Patricia Rayment
Denis Rayment, Rev David Helms and Patricia Rayment

They are putting up memory boards in the church with pictures and short biographies about some of the servicemen.

The church is also working with historian Peter Whapshott who can help families research the history of their loved ones.

Mr Rayment said: “We realise that over the years some of the relatives may have moved away and could be living anywhere.

“We would like to encourage them to bring any photographs, letters and badges and fasten them onto the large display boards we have, so that we can bring back the memory of their relatives to us all.”

Sheila Davies, the Dartford Poppy Appeal organiser, has also given out 2,000 leaflets about the appeal in the hope that more families will come forward.

Some of the names include S. Dixon, P.T. Smith, A.G. Collins and S. Oliver. To see the full list search St Alban’s Dartford on Facebook.

The service on Sunday will start at 3pm, and include readings, songs and poems.

There will then be a wartime afternoon tea with homemade cakes, and artefacts from the First World War will be on display.

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