THE Newcastle Emlyn branch of The Royal British Legion is to join thousands marching in Belgium as part of the end of the First World War centenary commemorations in August.

The Royal British Legion event, known as Great Pilgrimage 90 (GP90), takes place between August 5-9 and will be one of the largest in the charity’s history.

GP90 will mark 90 years since the original Great Pilgrimage in 1928, which saw 11,000 World War One veterans and war widows visit the battlefields of the Somme in France and Ypres in Belgium, a decade after the conflict ended.

The Great Pilgrimage culminated in a march through Ypres to the Menin Gate, in remembrance of those who never returned.

Local Legion members Paul Abrams and Helen Corbett will represent the Newcastle Emlyn branch and the local community at the event, as standard bearer and wreath layer respectively.

Paul and Helen will tour some of the battlefields and cemeteries visited by those on the Great Pilgrimage, before marching along the original route through Ypres, to the Menin Gate on August 8, bearing their branch standard.

They will join more than 2,200 other Legion members and dignitaries, including civic and military guests from the UK, Commonwealth and Northern Europe who are taking part.

Once at the Menin Gate, Helen will lay a wreath on behalf of the Newcastle Emlyn community.

Kenneth E Jones, chairman of the Newcastle Emlyn branch of The Royal British Legion, said: “Great Pilgrimage 90 is a unique opportunity for the Armed Forces community to come together and bear our standards along the same route in Ypres taken 90 years earlier by the veterans and widows of the First World War.

“The branch looks forward to proudly representing Newcastle Emlyn at the event.”

As local champions of remembrance, the local is looking to work in partnership with schools and cadet groups to bring their unique remembrance messages to the Menin Gate where they will be collected and displayed in the Commonwealth War Grave Commission grounds for viewing by the general public.

If you want to find out more about GP90, visit http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/community/calendar/remembrance-services-and-events/great-pilgrimage-90/ or contact Ken Jones on 01559 370035 or kencaro@lwcdial>net.

Remembrance messages sent or given to the chairman at Greenacres, Trebedw, Henllan SA44 5TN by August 1 can be taken by the branch representatives to the Menin Gate.