The Step Short memorial arch could become the British equivalent to the Menin Gate with a new monthly ceremony.

Dymchurch and District Royal British Legion has begun monthly Sunday commemorations for the fallen at the First World War memorial in Folkestone.

It is being seen as a version of the daily 8pm ceremony at the Menin Gate at Ypres, Belgium, with a parade and sounding of the Last Post.

It is being held on the first Sunday of every month indefinitely, from 10.30am to 11am, with the latest held last Sunday.

David Tyler, standard bearer for Dymchurch RBL, said: “This is meant to be a UK equivalent to the Menin Gate.

“We had a tremendous response from the public last Sunday. People sitting on benches stood up and joggers stopped running.

“There were 250 hits on the first hour for this item on the Step Short Facebook page. This has the potential of growing and growing.”

The idea came from Dymchurch RBL the New Romney and Hythe branches are joining in although all are welcome to take part.

It is being used as a continual acknowledgement to the fallen and to mark forthcoming anniversaries such as the 70th or the end of the Second World War in May and the 75th for the Battle of Britain this summer and autumn.

The arch on The Leas was opened by Prince Harry last August 4 on the centenary of Britain’s entry into the First World War.

This new ceremony will also be an opportunity to mark anniversaries of major battles from the conflict such as for the start of the Gallipoli Campaign this April and the Battle of the Somme in July next year.

The first such commemoration began on the evening of Sunday, December 7.

But because of poor attendance in the cold and dark it will be in the mornings at least in wintertimes and may be in the evenings during the summer.

Last Sunday’s ceremony had up to 11 members of Dymchurch and Hythe RBL including the Dymchurch branch president Major Phil Linehan.

This new venture follows the sounding of the Last Post at the arch, which took place every Sunday evening from August 10 to Remembrance Sunday, November 9.

It was played by Brian Walker, a former member of the Royal Marines Band Service, in a ceremony organised by Kent County Council.