The Princess Royal marks Canada Day in Bramshott and Liphook

The Princess Royal delivered a reading and lay a wreath during the Remembrance Service at St Mary's Church in Bramshott.

During the First World War, Bramshott was one of the largest Canadian military camps in the UK. Many who passed through Bramshott served in France and Flanders. 

Since 1942, the village has hosted an annual Canada Day service, which has helped to develop lasting bonds between the village and Canada. Maple trees are planted in St Mary’s churchyard and along the nearby A3 as a tribute.

There are over 300 Canadian soldiers buried at St Mary's Church, as nearby Bramshott Common was an important training ground for Canadian troops during the World Wars.

Following the service, The Princess visited Liphook CofE Junior School where pupils presented the story of Canadian servicemen Ernest Ede in a special drama performance.

For the past 20 years, pupils from Liphook CofE Junior School have recalled the sacrifices of Canadian troops in a variety of ways. Pupils have drawn sketches and written letters, prayers and poems around individual soldiers buried at St Mary's Church, before rehearsing presentations on their discoveries.

Her Royal Highness also presented a commemorative medal to nine-year-old Bellamy Budd, who demonstrated fantastic learning from the school's three-month Canada Day project. Bellamy researched a soldier called James Arthur Campbell, who died of Spanish flu in October 1918, and was so inspired that he then went on to research his own family tree.