A ROLL call of local men who gave their lives in two world wars and the symbolic release of a dozen doves of peace marked the official unveiling of Watchet's new war memorial last Saturday. The day of the long awaited ceremony had been chosen because it was the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria - the event which sparked the outbreak of World War One. And the powerful connection was not lost on the 1,000-strong crowd of local people, visitors and dignitaries who poured into the town for the often poignant and moving ceremony. The memorial - made of Portland stone and featuring a Celtic cross, sandbags and barbed wire and the names of the 56 Watchet men who died in World Wars One and Two - is the result of a three-year battle by the Watchet Remembrance Project Group. Campaigners, led by retired Major Robert McDonald, raised more than £22,000 to cover the cost not only of the memorial but also the refurbishment of railings and walls on the site just off The Esplanade, as well as the creation of a wrought iron information board and Viking-shaped plant troughs. Local children have played a part from the outset in helping to turn the group's dream into a reality, with the design of the memorial based on a drawing by Knights Templar First School pupil Roxy Towells, with Josh Crockford, now at Danesfield Middle School, raising funds for it. And Roxy was given the honour of presenting a posy of flowers to Lady Angela Rose, wife of Falklands and Bosnian war veteran General Sir Michael Rose who cut the ribbon and removed the two Union Jack flags from the memorial to reveal it publicly for the first time. He was helped by Mr McDonald and members of the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers. Earlier, Sir Michael had inspected a guard of honour from the 6th Battalion Rifles. Mr McDonald spoke movingly about the people of Watchet and thanked them for the help and support his group had received to enable them to erect a monument to the fallen and how glad he was their families were there to see it. The formal dedication was carried out by the Rev David Cooper, who also served in the Falklands conflict. A full range of military and civilian services were represented and laid wreaths at the foot of the memorial, along with relatives of the men who lost their lives, to commemorate the fallen. Among those laying wreaths were town mayor Cllr Loretta Whetlor, West Somerset Council chairman Cllr Stuart Dowding, project group archivist Sara Summers and Josh Crockford on behalf of the town's young people. Music was provided by the West Somerset Brass Band with a performance of I Dreamed a Dream by Jess Scott and Bring Him Home sung by Mark Pearce. Knights Templar pupils read a poem and sang Let There Be Peace, accompanied by Baptist minister the Rev Carl Smethurst on guitar. Local clergy from across all denominations played a part in the ceremony, a minute's silence was observed, Reveille was sounded and the Kohima Prayer was read by local Burma Star veteran Dr Glyn Court. White doves were released skywards towards the close of the ceremony before a reception provided by members of the Watchet Phoenix Centre, with refreshments for guests provided free of charge by local business Glenmore Bakery. The West Somerset Railway laid on special steam trains for the day of the ceremony, with the Norton Manor bearing a nameplate dedicated to the home base of 40 Commando Royal Marines. Mr McDonald told the Free Press the day's events had been a rollercoaster of emotions. "Even the weather played its part - we had a few spots of rain first thing but then it was dry," he said. "The ceremony went beyond all expectations and I want to thank all the people who helped in so many ways to make it so special." Mr McDonald said the only disappointment had been that cloud cover and a thunderstorm in Langport had prevented a World War Two Lysander aircraft from taking off, scuppering hopes of a poppy drop. "We are just so pleased that we have been able to create this unique memorial for Watchet - there is not another like it anywhere. "And it was marvellous to see some of the relatives of the men who died at the ceremony - one woman even got a taxi all the way from Taunton because she was so desperate to be there. "It was very emotional but we achieved what we set out to achieve a number of years ago - and that makes me very happy." Watchet mayor Cllr Loretta Whetlor described the event as fantastic and said she had felt humbled to be asked to lay a wreath on behalf of the community, alongside he families of some of the men who lost their lives. "It was wonderful to see the many people who had come to the town," she said. "Words do not do justice to the memorial - it is just amazing. "I would once again like to give my thanks to the Watchet Remembrance Project Group who worked so hard for over three years to raise the money to give to Watchet a memorial it has wanted for so many years. "I am so grateful and I know there are many others who are too."