THE communities of Hatherleigh and Bridestowe are preparing to pay their respects to the brave servicemen who gave their lives in the First World War. Hatherleigh will hold a day of remembrance on Saturday, August 2 at Hatherleigh Community Centre. At 11am, Dorothy Ellis, the last living First World War widow is planning to open the day by laying a wreath of poppies made by Hatherleigh school children at the foot of a model of a First World War tank. Dorothy, who turned 93 on Armistice Day, will lay the wreath to remember those who fought in the conflict, including her late husband Wilfred. His wartime heroics helped to inspire Michael Morpurgo's novel War Horse. A private in the Norfolk Regiment, Wilfred survived being shot in the ankle and being gassed in the space of five months in 1918. He rarely spoke of his experiences until he shared memories with author Michael Morpurgo when they both lived in the village more than 30 years ago. The remembrance day will consist of an in depth exhibition of the men who fought who have family connections to the area, from that time and the present. At lunchtime, ploughman's lunches will be served, with cream teas in the afternoon. The evening event at 7.30pm will remember the entertainment of the era, with Hatherleigh Silver Band, members of Hatherleigh Players, Geoffrey Cleverdon CBE and Brain Abell taking part. Tickets to the evening event are available from Hatherleigh Community Centre and Hatherleigh Pottery on a first come first served basis. There is no charge for any of the events, but donations will be welcomed which will go towards the costs of the event and the production of a book about Hatherleigh in the First World War. Plans are underway for both churches in Bridestowe to be involved in the village's commemoration of the war on Monday, August 4. The parish church will be open all day for quiet reflection with candles to light and a display of First World War memorabilia. The methodist church will be open from 11am to 8pm on Monday, 6pm to 9pm on Tuesday, August 5 and 10am to noon on August 6. The events on August 4 will start with a short service of prayers at the village's war memorial at 11am led by the Rev Graham Warmington. There will be a display of posters about those men who died in the Great War around the memorial. The methodist church will hold a display of reports on every man whose name is on the stone memorial. The reports have been written by Howard Barkell. Coffee will be served in the methodist church with a chance to chat and reminisce. The memorial stone at the chapel will be decorated with flowers and visitors will be able to add their own flower as a personal tribute. There will be a computer and printer for visitors to research their families' history and the projector will be used for DVDs of First World War films to be shown.