A church in Dartford has been able to learn more about fallen war heroes, thanks to the Messenger.

St Alban’s Church in St Alban’s Road read out the names of 200 men who lost their lives during the First World War at a remembrance service on Sunday.

Denis Rayment, 89, and his wife Patricia compiled the list of names from a plaque inside the church.

People from as far afield as Australia and British Columbia had got in touch with him to tell their relatives’ stories, but Mr Rayment said it was thanks to the Messenger that the church was able to learn more on Sunday.

We published an appeal urging relatives of the 200 men to get in touch.

Mr Rayment said: “It was unbelievable we had so many people come, we had more than 70 people, and they enjoyed the service.

“Thanks to your newspaper, we had more people come forward with stories than all the time before.

“It was like a last-minute panic.”

Mr Rayment was still emailing details about the men to one of the family history researchers at midnight, the night before the service.

The church is working with historian Peter Whapshott who is able to help families learn more about the history of their loved ones.

The campaign also had the support of Sheila Davies, the Dartford Poppy Appeal organiser, who gave out 2,000 leaflets about the appeal.

After the service, there were rifles, uniforms and grenades on display for visitors to look at, and there was a variety of food for guests to try – including Great War era spam and rock cakes.

People also had the chance to view the memory boards that Mr Rayment had set up at the back of the church, with pictures and more information about the 200 fallen soldiers and airmen.

Some of the war heroes’ relatives turned up for the service with their pictures, and Mr Rayment explained there wasn’t time to add the extra details into the service, but showed them where the display boards were and told them to pick a spot.

“The success was incredible,” he said. “They loved the singing and the whole service – it exceeded our expectations.

“The children loved the food and ate all the rock cakes.”

Among those remembered were:

• Rifleman William Richard Hawkins of the Kings Royal Rifle Corp, who was killed in action on September 23, 1917, aged 19
• Lance Corporal Terrance Archer DCM from the Machine Gun Corp, who was killed in action on November 25, 1917, aged 21
• Seaman Ernest Archer, who drowned aged 21 on March 26, 1918, on HMS Lady Cory Wright, which was sunk by a submarine on November 25, 1917
• Private Frank David Chambers, from the Royal West Kent Regiment, who was killed in action on June 7, 1917 aged 20
• Gunner Percy George Essex, from the Royal Garrison Artillery, who died on Christmas day 1916. He was buried in Basra Cemetery in Iraq
• Lance Corporal George Ralph Poile, Royal West Kent Regiment, who is buried in Beersheba Cemetery, Israel
• Rifleman Charles Stevens, Kings Royal Rifle Corp, who was killed in action on July 15, 1918.