HOVINGHAM Royal British Legion and Ryedale Family History Group are inviting visitors to walk among two poignant installations in All Saints churchyard in the church to reflect on the impact of the war on small communities.

The groups have installed replica field burial crosses to commemorate the 16 local men who died in the First World War. Each cross carries the name and age of the man, with his role in the community, as well as on the battlefield.

Rob Thompson, secretary of the Hovingham branch Royal British Legion, said: “They are replicas of the makeshift crosses marking those who were found and buried where they fell, to be exhumed later and reinterred in Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries

“A Parade of Pennants commemorates all who went to war, returning home different and damaged men. They and their families had little support and rarely talked about their experiences.

“Seventy eight pennants line the path to the church door, illustrating the huge gap they left behind. A name plate with their age and occupation, where know, honours each man individually and provides an outline of our community at that time.

“Blue pennants mark the 14 families with more than one member away; red pennants mark single representatives of their families. A poppy marks those who died.

“Looking at the sheer number of pennants illustrates the size of the gap left in our community.”

There is also a memorial book in the church which give more details.