THE centenary anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War was marked with a series of poignant services.

On Monday there was a Drumhead service at Macclesfield Cemetery. As was the frontline tradition, drums were used to create a makeshift altar for the service which featured representatives from the Royal British Legion (RBL), Sea Cadets, Army Cadets and Air Cadets.

Across the town and villages residents turned off their lights between 10pm and 11pm leaving only a single light or candle as a symbolic act of remembrance.

There were also candlelight vigils at Macclesfield’s Cenotaph and at Bollington’s Garden of Remembrance.

Yesterday (Tuesday) at Park Green member of the Macclesfield RBL unveiled a monument to the 306 soldiers shot for cowardice or desertion.

The Mayor of Macclesfield Janet Jackson lays a wreath of poppies

The simple wooden post was placed the same distance from the Cenotaph that the firing squad would have carried out their brutal task.

Allan Williams from Macclesfield RBL said: “All 306 of these men were later exonerated as it was recognised that they were suffering shell shock. Six of these men were of the Cheshire Regiment. In the days of the pal’s Battalions, the firing squad men would have been friends of the man concerned.”

More than 100 people joined in candlelit services in Bollington at the war memorial where they sang and read prayers.

The Mayor of Bollington laid poppies on the war graves in St John’s and St Greg’s churchyards on behalf of the British Legion and community.