A NIECE who lost her uncle during a famous World War One battle said she was moved by the service held to remember those who had died.

Dignitaries, councillors, residents and family gathered in Cripplegate Park today (Saturday) to remember the World War One battles of Oghratina and Qatia.

Worcester News: Barbara Hingley, Worcester mayor Louis Stephen, and Paul Harding, Chairman of the Friends of the Worcestershire Yeomanry Museum.Barbara Hingley, Worcester mayor Louis Stephen, and Paul Harding, Chairman of the Friends of the Worcestershire Yeomanry Museum. (Image: Newsquest)Amongst those at the service was Barbara Hingley, who had lost her uncle Henry Hodges during the battle in 1916.

She said she unfortunately never met her uncle because he had died alongside his Worcestershire Yeomanry soldiers, but his passing had still left its mark on the family after she was born.

"I never met him because he sadly died in 1916," she said.

Worcester News: Wreaths were laid during the service. Wreaths were laid during the service. (Image: Newsquest)"He was one in 14 and the eldest.

"My father used to talk about him and he was still a known name after all those years he had been dead.

"My grandmother never got over the fact he was killed."

Worcester News: A cross in memory of Henry Hodges. A cross in memory of Henry Hodges. (Image: Newsquest)The battle of Oghratina and Qatia started after the Yeomanry soldiers were attacked in the early hours of Easter Sunday.

The soldiers were ordered to guard a small party of Royal Engineers tasked with digging wells at Oghratina, east of the Suez Canal.

The group had decided to stay and defend the Royal Engineers when 3,000 Turkish and German soldiers decided to attack their base.

It led to many Yeomanry fatalities as they were vastly outnumbered.

Today's service was to remember those who had died and the brave commitment of the Yeomanry soldiers.

Ms Hingley added: "I am getting so emotional about this and cannot really get over it.

"For people to remember them like this is amazing.

"I think it is wonderful that these people are remembered after all these years, which is very important.

"I thought the service was very fitting.

"It was just perfect - it wasn't overdone."

Hymns were sung, prayers were read, and a two-minute silence was given during the service.

Colonel Stamford Cartwright, chairman of the Queens Own Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry Comrades Association, said: "We go back to 1794, and Yeomanry over the years in the counties of Worcestershire and Warwickshire have given up their time and trained to become officiant soldiers.

"Then, on occasions, they have had to stand up to the plate and fight for their country.

"It really does concentrate the mind to thinking those people were just purely volunteers because they felt our way of life here is worth protecting."