Events are taking place up and down and the county next year to remember those who laid down their lives in the First World War.
Church services, parades, and exhibitions have been organised in memory of the conflict, which took place between 1914 and 1918.
See below for details on planned events and register and post yours below:
August 3
- St Nicolas Church in Witham will host Witham's inaugural First World War centenary event.
- There will be a community service at the United Reformed Church in Maldon to mark the centenary of the First World War
- At the war memorial on Maldon high street, there will be an act of remembrance with students from the local Plume school telling the story of some of the local people who lost their lives in the Great War.
- There will be a memorial parade to mark those fallen in World War One in Witham on August 4. The parade will begin at 645 pm outside the RAFA Club on Bridge Street and conclude in the Memorial Gardens. It will be led by the Stow Caledonian Pipe Band and features a different range of standards from legion ex-soldiers, air force cadets, church representatives, St. John's ambulance and members of the Town Council.
- There will be a parade in Tendring to mark the centenary of World War One hosted by the Royal Air Force Association, the Royal British Legion and Tendring District Council. The parade, which takes place on Sunday 3 August, starts at Clacton town hall at 10:30 am and will march to the war memorial on Marine Parade West. A service will then be held at the War Memorial at 11am and will include a roll call of those named on the War Memorial that died in 1914 as well as those for whom a date of death is not recorded or who died after 1918. Adrian Nation, a singer songwriter from Holland on Sea, will be performing 'The Band Played Waltzing Matilda' which is about the Gallipoli campaign which took place in World War One.
- Rayleigh Windmill will mark the centenary of the outbreak of World War One with an exhibition running from Saturday 26 July until 10 August. The 'Rayleigh Through the Looking Glass' exhibition will detail what life was like in Rayleigh 100 years ago. It will also tell the story of Rayleigh men involved in the conflict and those that did not return. It is open every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday except for Saturday 2 and 9 August when the venue will be closed for private weddings
- Display of First World War Memorabilia – Royal British Legion Club 13 The Causeway from noon to 6pm and Halstead Heritage Museum from 1.30pm to 4.30pm
- Harwich Brass Band Concert, Halstead Public Gardens 2pm to 4pm
August 4
- The Royal British Legion (RBL) is asking people to turn their lights off to mark the centenary of World War One. The Lights Out campaign asks people to use a single candle or light for an hour from 10 pm on August 4. To mark the occasion many Royal British Legion branches across Essex will be hosting candle lit parades and memorial services.
- The Clacton on Sea RBL Branch will be hosting a Drumhead service and candle light vigil on August 3 and will be taking part in the Lights Out campaign on August 4. They will be holding a candlelit vigil at the War Memorial on the seafront on Monday August 4 between 9pm and 9.30pm. Everyone is welcome to come along and bring a tea light or a special centenary candle can be bought from Marks and Spencer, with all proceeds going to the British Legion.
- The RBL branch on New London Road in Chelmsford will be opening its doors on to host the Lights Out Event. They will offer free cheese and wine from 9pm and light one candle at 10pm when the lights are turned off whilst they play war time music. The bar will also be open that evening.
- In Hornchurch, the St Andrews Church memorial service at 11am will be attended by the local Royal British Legion branch in memory of those fallen.
- Members of the Essex Association of Change Ringers will ring a peal to commemorate the declaration of the outbreak of the First World War at All Saints' Church, Maldon. The bells will ring continuously from 12pm to 3pm on Sunday with a peal of at least 5040 changes of Yorkshire Surprise Major. The ringing will be half-muffled as is customary for ringing in Remembrance.
- Service of commemoration - St Andrew's Church 10am to 11am 'Last Post' and Poppy Drop from the bell tower
August 5 onwards
- Beginning on August 5 and running through until December 19, the Braintree District Museum will be hosting a 'Braintree District at War 1914-1918' exhibition to mark the centenary. It will focus on the impact of the war on Braintree and the contributions its residents made to the war effort, such as the work of the East Anglian Munitions Committee.
- The Essex Record Office in Chelmsford will be hosting an afternoon session on August 6 in which visitors will be able to uncover stories about life at home and away during the First World War. The 'Discover: First World War records at the ERO' will run from 2.30-4.30 pm. Call to book in advance: 01245 244644. Tickets cost £10 each.
- On August 6, the East Essex Aviation Society will be taking along some of their artefacts from their museum at Point Clear to add to the display at Clacton Town Hall to mark the last two days of the World War One display they have had running there since July 28.
- Waltham Abbey will host a four day World War One exhibition to mark the centenary of the outbreak of war. The exhibition will run at the Town Hall, Highbridge Street, Waltham Abbey from Friday 22 until Monday August 25. It will focus on the role the town hall served as a hospital during the war with a recreated hospital ward and canteen area. There will also be a large photographic exhibition and a film to view.
- Layer Marney Tower will host a family play to commemorate the First World War on Sunday September 14. The play, called 'The Battle for Lilac Lawns', is inspired by a father's letters and is about a young boy embarking on a First World War adventure. The play is suitable for both adults and children. To book tickets call: 01206 330784. Tickets £7.50.
