MORE military families will be able to pay respects to their loved ones who died in conflicts with the creation of a new Book of Remembrance.

Since 2002 families have gathered at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford several times a year for Turning the Pages ceremonies.

Each time, the names of 20 soldiers from the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and The Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars who died in the two world wars, are read out.

Now the ceremony is to be updated so it can include the names of soldiers who served with the Royal Green Jackets and The Rifles, the latest identities of the Ox and Bucks regiment.

Terry Roper, chairman of the Oxford branch of the Royal Green Jackets Association, who often helps to conduct the ceremonies, said he came up with the idea of a third Book of Remembrance, together with Brigadier Robin Draper, president of the branch.

Mr Roper said: “The preparations are well under way now for the third Book of Remembrance, in agreement with Christ Church.

“There was nothing to cover between the wars, or conflicts since, so we thought a new book should be created to honour those who fell in active service in later years.

“The book will cost about £13,000 and will be very ornate, with donations from the regimental trust of the Ox and Bucks to cover the cost.

“We have also asked the Royal Green Jackets Association trustees and The Rifles to help out with the funding – there’s a bookbinder from Yarnton working on the project.”

Mr Roper said he was aiming for the new book to be in in its case at the cathedral by November 11, the 100th anniversary of the Armistice, and there would be a special dedication service on a different date.

He expects the new book to contain about 65 names from the Royal Green Jackets and a considerable number from The Rifles.

Conflicts in which soldiers from the regiment died included the Troubles in Northern Ireland, said Mr Roper.

The Turning the Pages tradition was started by Colonel Richard Hill.