A solemn hush fell across the audience as 1,459 poppy petals fell in honour of every man who lost his life during one of the largest naval disasters in history.

On September 22, 1914 three of Britain’s older ships were on patrol off the Hook of Holland.

HMS Aboukir was torpedoed by a German submarine and, believing she has been hit by a mine, HMS Hogue and HMS Cressy came to her aid.

Within 90 minutes all three were sunk.

Dutch merchant ships picked up 791 survivors but 1,459 men died and 85% of them were from the Chatham Division of the Royal Navy.

The Duke of Kent was the principal guest at a Drumhead Service forming part of the Historic Dockyard Chatham’s centenary commemorations on Monday - 100 years to the day of the sinking.

His Royal Highness unveiled a plaque in memory of the disaster in the North Sea and the Mayor of Medway Cllr Barry Kemp presented a representative of the Mayor of The Hague in the Netherlands with a poppy wreath.

The service was led by the Bishop to the Armed Forces, the Rt Rev Dr Stephen Venner, who spoke of the acts of generosity, bravery and self sacrifice of the men on board those three cruisers.

The Band of the Royal Marines played a number of hymns and the nation anthem before the 1,459 poppy petals drifted lightly to the floor.

More than 1,000 people from across the country turned out for the service and the Band’s performance of Beating the Retreat at the end of the afternoon.

Elizabeth Foley, from Wiltshire, lost her grandfather Waldron Harris aboard HMS Aboukir. He lived in Ross Street, Rochester, and left his widow and two children.

Sisters Hazel Speller and Phillis Barham came to pay their respects to their uncle William Pointer who died on the same ship, aged just 29.

Among the distinguished guests was Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas and the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Viscount de L’Isle as well as members of the Live Bait Squadron Society, a group dedicated to the memory of those who perished.