Several hundred residents and local civic dignitaries watched HM Lord Lieutenant David Briggs unveil 14 extra names on Middlewich Town War Memorial on Saturday.

The ceremony, presented by the Mayor of Middlewich, Cllr Bill Walmsley and Ken Kingston, chairman of Middlewich Branch of the Royal British Legion, started with a parade from Civic Way, led by 'Private Derby', the mascot of the Mercian Regiment.

The service was opened by Devlin Hobson, Middlewich Town Crier and Mr Kingston gave an introduction as to how the missing names were uncovered by Geoff Page, president of Middlewich Branch RBL, together with the research done by the Branch, Middlewich Heritage Trust, historian Phillip Andrews and Middlewich heritage development officer, Kerry Kirwan.

Hymns and the National Anthem were led by Middlewich High School Community Choir while prayers were read by Reverend Barry Jobber, Chaplain to Middlewich Branch and Cheshire County Royal British Legion.

The Lord Lieutenant then performed the unveiling ceremony. The names, ranks and regiments or services of the 14 men were read out by Max Beasley from Middlewich High School, Mathew Hitchin from St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Ben Singleton from Middlewich Primary School and Thomas Orme from Cledford Primary School.

Ken Kingston recited the Exhortation and Kohima Epitaph during the Act of Remembrance.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of The Queen by the Lord Lieutenant, Middlewich Town Council by the Mayor, the Royal Navy by Commander Janet Evans MBE DL, the British Army by Captain Benedict Griffiths, Regimental Adjutant, on behalf of General Ian Cave, Regimental Colonel, Mercian Regiment, the Royal Air Force by Flight Lieutenant John Morgan MBE and the Royal British Legion, by Middlewich Branch President Geoff Page.

Ken Kingston thanked the descendants of Private Russell Thomas Hatton for attending; Lord Grey, president of Cheshire County Royal British Legion; Fiona Bruce MP, the Royal British Legion Standard Bearers; Middle-Wyches WI who made the veil for the ceremony and the youth organisations and everyone else for attending.