Those who fought and gave their lives in battle were remembered by hundreds who gathered on Remembrance Sunday to commemorate 100 years since the First World War broke out.

Hackney Gazette: Remembrance Sunday Parade in Hackney lay wreaths and pay their respects outside Hackney Town Hall on Sunday, 9 November 2014.Remembrance Sunday Parade in Hackney lay wreaths and pay their respects outside Hackney Town Hall on Sunday, 9 November 2014. (Image: Tolga Akmen)

The annual Remembrance Sunday proceedings began with a wreath-laying ceremony at St John at Hackney Church Cenotaph followed by a service at the church led by Father Rob Wickham.

Almost 700 people attended, including Mayor of Hackney, Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor CllrSophie Linden and MP Diane Abbott.

Leaders from the Buddhist, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faiths, as well as young person Jonathan Bentill, 19, gave readings outside the church before the two minutes’ silence at 11am.

The Speaker of Hackney, Sharon Patrick, and Lt Col Morriss – the Queen’s representative to Hackney – paraded alongside more than 500 others, including veterans, the Royal British Legion, Reservists, Sea, Army and Air Cadets, scouts, police, the fire brigade, Red Cross and St John Ambulance, to Hackney Town Hall in Mare Street.

They were led by the band of the Jewish Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade.

The traditional march-past salute was taken by Lt Col Morriss and dignitaries in front of the town hall to the sounds of the choir from Hackney Empire.

The day was organised by Lt Col Morriss, St John at Hackney Church and the council.

On Sunday evening, at St Peter De Beauvoir church, the 163 names commemorated in the chapel in an exhibition which followed almost a year’s worth of research were read out.

Tens of thousands of men from the borough took part in the Great War which killed more than one million British and colonial soldiers.

Cllr Patrick said: “Representing Hackney on Remembrance Sunday is an honour. We must never forget the sacrifices made by the men and women who lost their lives during the World Wars nor those who have died in the line of duty in the wars since.

“In particular, I would like to give special mention to the men and women from Hackney, past and present, who have dedicated their lives to serving their country.”