Ref. 27749-43RELATIVES gathered at Swindon College for a moving service to remember those who fell in the Great War.

For years the names of 44 young men have been immortalised in a stained glass window in the college's Victoria Road building.

But few of their surviving relatives knew the memorial existed until reading about the service in the Evening Advertiser or being traced by Swindon College staff.

The window commemorates staff and students of the college who died in World War I.

Deacon Dennis Sutton of Holy Rood Church led the ceremony, which closed with a two minute silence at 11am.

With the college scheduled to move to North Star in 2005 this was one of their last chances to pay their respects to their loved ones.

The window is in a listed building so it will be preserved but there is no guarantee it will be open to the public if the building is turned into flats.

Retired clerical worker Gwendoline Hart, 73, from Purton, is the niece of Corp Herbert Titchener, who died on July 10, 1917, aged 20.

She attended with her sister Margaret Woodman, 76, from Highworth and Corp Titchener's cousin Janet Phillips, 87, from Stratton St Margaret.

She said: "It was a very touching service. I never met Uncle Bert but this brings back memories of my father, who fought in the war and spoke of him often.

"I only found out about this when I read his name in the paper, so it felt special to be able to pay my respects."

Doreen Beint, 78, from Rodbourne Cheney, said: "The service was incredible, it brings you back to things you did not feel you would remember.

"It was a great idea to hold this service and I hope they can do it every year."