AN old promise was kept as prisoners of war who died before returning to their families were honoured at a poignant service in their memory.

Veterans in military regalia, standard bearers, young and old, stood shoulder to shoulder at the service in Astwood Cemetery in Worcester on Sunday, planting crosses at each grave in an intensely personal and intimate ceremony.

Organised by the Royal British Legion, the service was an opportunity to remember all those who fell in war but particularly prisoners of war, whatever their allegiance. Old enmities were put aside and in a service which emphasised our common humanity and the value of peace.

The service began with a promise made to the parents of a German prisoner of war to lay a wreath at his grave.

His name was Karl Fuest who was born on January 11, 1905 and died in Worcester on February 21, 1947.

His parents wrote to the Legion in 1962 asking that a wreath be laid on his grave because they were too ill at the time to travel to Worcester to do it themselves. He was one of more than 30 POWs who died at Ronkswood Hospital in Worcester.

Allan Poyner, chairman of the Worcester branch of the Royal British Legion, said: “Every soldier that is over there in the cemetery was following orders whether they wanted to or not.

“I think it’s important that we remember that when we come down here every year.”

The cemetery contains the graves of seven German POWs and three Italian POWs. With them are the graves of three Polish servicemen and one Czech, our Allies during the Second World War who could not be repatriated.

Among those to attend the ceremony were the mayor of Worcester, Cllr Jabba Riaz, Tomasz Wisniewski of the Worcestershire Polish Association, representatives of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment Association and the Sea Cadet Corps.

Tomasz Wisniewski said: "We showed our solidarity and respect to the British and Polish soldiers and also to our communities. A very large Polish community lives in Worcestershire.

"It’s very important day for us, because Poles provided significant contributions to the Allied effort throughout the war, fighting on land, sea and air."

The service was conducted by Canon Paul Tongue who said: “Let us pray for all those who died here as prisoners and are buried in these graves.”

Wreaths were laid at the war memorial followed by the Last Post as standards were lowered. The two minutes silence followed.