SOMME CENTENARY: We must remember those who fought and died in the Battle of the Somme

On July 1, 1916, there were almost 60,000 casualties and they will be remembered with a series of tributes across the county, including a memorial service and two-minute silence at Oxford Town Hall at 10.45am.

Families of those who fought in the Somme campaign, veterans and historians said it was important the sacrifice of those who died was not forgotten.

Mary Chavasse, 81, whose late husband John was the nephew of Captain Noel Chavasse – the only soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross twice during the First World War – urged people to take time out to remember the fallen.

Mrs Chavasse, of Hayward Road, North Oxford, said: "It is only fitting and right that people should remember Noel Chavasse and the many others who died in the war.

"Some of the men who fought in the Somme were so young -– it was so cruel and practically wiped out a whole generation."

At 7.28am there will be a national two-minute silence to mark the moment the first wave of soldiers went over the top.

Brigadier Robin Draper, president of the Oxford branch of the Royal Green Jackets Association, said it was vital that people, particularly the younger generation, remembered what had happened in the conflict.

He added: "We must remember the sacrifice that was made in the Somme battle by the soldiers of Oxfordshire to ensure that our freedom was preserved.

"If we fail to do that we risk a repetition of such a conflict, which would be even more unimaginable."

The Lord of the Rings author and Oxford University professor JRR Tolkien was sent into action in the Somme with the 13th Service Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers in June 1916.

In July, Tolkien served two five-day duties on the frontline and was repatriated in November after suffering trench fever.

His grandson Simon Tolkien said he hoped everyone would "come to a halt" for the two-minute silence.

He added: "What happened on that day, the sheer horror of it, led to vast disillusionment in the trenches which spread through society."

Jim Lewendon, president of the City of Oxford group of the Royal British Legion, said he would be attending the town hall memorial service.

He added: "The Somme was horrendous – we must remember those young lads who went over the top and were gunned down before they had gone a few yards."

Rob Forsyth, from Deddington, near Banbury, has been researching the history of men from the village who died in the wars, including Rifleman Norman Sykes, of 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, who was killed in action near Albert, France, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

Last month Mr Forsyth visited the First World War battlefields to pay tribute to the Deddington soldiers who died.

The 76-year-old said: "Norman Sykes was aged just 19 when he died of the first day of the Battle of the Somme along with many others and their deaths must not be forgotten."