Video and pictures: Time to remember Somme sacrifice
The battle began on July 1, 1916 and raged until November 18, killing more than one million from all sides.
Among the British lives lost were 22 men from Horncastle and some of their relatives attended the service to place poppy crosses at the war memorial.
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Hide AdMartin Foster placed a cross in memory of his great uncle John Edward Foster, who was killed on October 23, 2016, aged 24 years.
John has no grave, but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial
He was one of five brothers who went to war - only two returned, one of them was Martin’s grandfather, who was wounded and treated at the Horncastle hospital, before returning to fight.
“I think it is fantastic to see everyone here today,” said Martin. “It is good to see it is still important in the town.”
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Hide AdAlso at the event was Gavin Wiggins-Davies, whose grandmother’s first husband was Richard Stanhope, of Revesby Abbey.
“These things are too important to ignore,” said Mr Wiggins-Davies. “Without these sacrifices, where would we be today?”