Newtown will mark 100 years since the founding of the Royal British Legion with a special commemorative event.

Wreaths will be laid at the War Memorial in New Road in a short service attended by local dignitaries and members of the organisation.

On Sunday, May 15, 1921, a group of ex-Servicemen walked to the Cenotaph war memorial in London’s Whitehall. As Big Ben struck nine, four men representing societies that for three years had been rivals laid a wreath at the base of the memorial. On that wreath were the badges of the four organisations that would officially amalgamate to form the British Legion.

From that moment the Royal British Legion was formed, and by Christmas 1921, the ranks of the organisation had grown to include 2,500 branches across the country and abroad.

One wreath will be laid by the Royal British Legion’s Newtown branch and another will be placed by the Royal British Legion Women’s Section.

The service will also be attended by The Reverend Canon Nia Wyn Morris and Newtown mayor Councillor David Selby.

The event will be held at 9am on Saturday, May 15. People are welcome to attend.