It is a permanent reminder to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

And ahead of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the First World War, an appeal has been launched to trace relatives and descendants of those who died during the conflict who feature on the Kessingland War Memorial.

Kessingland Parish Council has teamed up with the Rector of St Edmund's Church, Rev Janet Wyer, in the search to find relatives as they aim to invite them to a special service later this year.

Parish council chairman Liam Martin said: 'To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War the Parish Council is working with the Rector of St Edmunds Church to trace and locate any descendants or anyone related to those whose name appears on the WW1 side of the Village War Memorial.

'This is so we can invite them to the remembrance day service on Sunday, November 11.

'We have conducted some research and come up with some interesting stories about some of those named on the memorial. We found that there is only one woman Ethel Strowger, who was a nurse, Major Chevers was the village GP, and there are some who are related either directly or through marriage.

'To date we have traced some relatives and next of kin who feature on the war memorial, but only a small number, we would like to trace more.'

Mr Martin said that they had been researching the project since November, after it had been discussed in general conversation.

He said: 'We were in the process of getting the war memorial and cleaned up and restored and given the importance of the centenary we felt it might be a good idea to do something to mark the occasion and hold a special service.

'We started off with the names on the war memorial and found out that there were five people in the village who do not appear on the war memorial. They deserve to go on there, so as we look to restore the war memorial we will get that updated to reflect these additional five people.

'We are looking for descendants to attend and make it a special day – there must still be some people in the village who are related in some way .'

If you are related or you know somebody who is related to those on the Kessingland War Memorial call Liam Martin on 01502 740363 or Councillor Pat Wernham on 01502 744367.

War memorial

The list of names, including those to be added to the memorial during restoration, that appear on the WW1 side of the Kessingland War Memorial:

1st CPO John H Barber, Dk Hand Ernest J Beamish, Stkr James A Bird, 2nd Hand Alfred Brown, Ist PO George Bunn, PO Christopher Catchpole, WO Albert E Cook, Dk Hand Arthur R Cook, Dk Hand Arthur G Durrant, 1st CPO George W Farrow, Trmr Ernest J Forster, Stkr Arthur S Goddard, Edward Gouldby, Dk Hand James H H Hall, 2nd Hand Frederick Harvey, Dk Hand Bertie Hurren, PO Samuel I Marjoram, Trmr Thomas W Read, Skipper Alonzo Strowger, Dk Hand George H Studd, Fisherman William Studd, 1st CPO Raymond A Thacker, Dk Hand Pelham G Turrell, Dk Hand Ernest H Westoby, Pte Alfred J Adams, Sgt Thomas T Aldous,

Pte Frederick C Block, L/Cpl Percy Block, L/Cpl Victor E Blowers, Pte Edgar H Blowers, Pte Henry C Butcher, L/Cpl Conrad Catchpole, 2nd Lt Charles E Catchpole, Sgt Hedley Catchpole, Pte John W Catchpole, Sgt Stanley A Catchpole, Major Herbert L C Chevers, Pte Maurice T Clarke, Pte William Cole, L/Cpl James A Garnham, Pte Charles J Kemp, L/Cpl Arthur C Kent, Pte Ronald Knights, Pte Samuel London, Pte Victor Louge, Pte Robert S Mallett, Pte Allan J Mitchell, Pte Herbert W. Moore, Pte Ernest Mutimer, Lt Denzil Heriz-Smith, Pte William J Tillett, Pte Victor C Tripp, Pte Ernest W Turrell, Pte Jaspar W Utting, Pte Ivo T Wadlow, Pte John R Wingfield, V A D Ethel Strowger, Dk Hand Harold F Davis.