VILLAGERS are holding a day of commemoration to pay tribute to fallen Australian and New Zealand soldiers on Sunday.

Services are being held at war graves in Sutton Veny and Codford in honour of Anzac Day.

Over 20,000 soldiers were stationed throughout the Wylye Valley during the First World War.

An Anzac Day service will be held at St John's Church in Sutton Veny, where 145 Australian and New Zealand soldiers are buried, at 3pm.

Organiser Bob Tanner said: "During the Great War between 1914-18, more than 20,000 soldiers were stationed around here but many died from the Spanish flu after the war.

"We have 145 of them lying

in our village in official war graves and we often have Australian visitors turn up to pay respects."

A dawn service will also be held in the Commonwealth war graves at St Mary's Church in Codford from 6.30am.

Organiser Major Euan Hutchings said: "It is traditionally held at dawn on Anzac Day because that is the time when the first Australian and New Zealand soldiers reached Gallipoli in the First World War, where many died.

"The fact that they came over from so far away in order to fight in the interests of freedom and a lot of them are very young makes me quite sad, so it is very important to many people to hold these services."