PETERSFIELD War Memorial has been restored and the roll of honour brought up to date in readiness for the commemorations to mark the 100 years since the end of the First World.

The war began in 1914, and officially ended at 5am on November 11, 1918, after Germany signed the armistice documents prepared by Britain and France.

Petersfield Town Council spokesman Steve Field said: “The work included a clean, and the replacement of a number of the Portland Stone blocks it’s made of, including two which show a poem by written by G R Haines and the dates of the First World War, both of which are on the side facing towards The Square.

“Also, a number of additional names of those who fell during that war have been engraved on the four sides of the memorial.

“And the two Second World War plaques with the names of those who lost their lives have been replaced and names are now listed in alphabetical order.

“Much of the ‘piping’ work has also been replaced, and the memorial is looking more defined and back to its former condition.

“An Act of Dedication will be organised within the next few months, when Petersfield can come together and share what the memorial stands for – the lives that were given in all wars since the start of the First World War.”

The memorial was designed by architect Henry Inigo Jones of Liphook and unveiled in 1921, and today is maintained by Petersfield Town Council.

The £12,500 cost of the work was made up of a £5,150 grant from the English Heritage supported First World War Memorials Program run by the War Memorials Trust.

The Petersfield War Memorial Preservation Fund also donated £2,000, and the remainder came from the town council.

War Memorials Trust director Frances Moreton said: “The charity was delighted to support the restoration of Petersfield War Memorial, as it is vital we ensure all our war memorials are in the best possible condition for their age.

“The centenary of the First World War is a wonderful opportunity for communities to protect and conserve their war memorials, which are a tangible connection to our shared past, creating a link between the fallen and today.”