A village has launched a quest to find descendants of local heroes who were killed in the First World War.

The names of 32 young men are inscribed on the Benenden Village War Memorial and an appeal has been made by a local man for the descendants of anyone connected to them to come forward.

Robin Dalton Holmes hopes to piece together a tribute from personal belongings for these soldiers as well as anyone who survived the conflict.

Mr Holmes said: "Whenever I see their names on the memorial I want to know more about who they were and about their lives.

“We are planning to mount a display in the village church if we can find possessions or objects which will bring their lives into focus for today’s generation.”

The quest has so far successfully made contact with virtually all of the named heroes relatives, many of whom are still based in Benenden.

Robin added: "The one difficulty we have is with finding more about Captain William Reymes-Cole's connections with Benenden."

"Whenever I see their names on the memorial I want to know more about who they were and their lives" - Robin Dalton Holmes

Benenden will be lighting 32 candles as part of the Royal British Legion's tribute to the fallen named on the memorial at St George’s Parish Church.

Thousands of villages across the country are expected to participate and it is hoped that over a million candles will be lit.

The Parish Council along with the village's two churches have organised the local commemoration which will take place on Sunday August 3 and will include the placing of a wreath at the memorial.

Villagers will be invited to follow the Royal British Legion standard to St George's Church where an act of remembrance for the fallen and thanksgiving for those who returned from conflict will take place.

Anyone with any information on the village’s servicemen or with World War One artifacts to offer can contact the Benenden Parish Council on 01580 240371.