WE love hearing from Looking Backers all over the country and were delighted to hear from Jeremy Thomas of Portsmouth following last week's article on the new app commemorating the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.

Jeremy wished to point out the interesting North Dorset link with the battle. He has a personal interest in this story as his great uncle was with the RND throughout the Gallipoli campaign and was killed at the Battle of the Ancre on November 13 1916.

He said: "Blandford Camp was the training depot for the Royal Naval Division, a unique infantry division formed from RNVR recruits who signed up in 1914 when the number of volunteers was too large for the Army to process.

"Winston Churchill, being First Sea Lord at the time, suggested that the Navy take them and train them for operations such as defending ports and then for the invasion of Gallipoli.

"Thousands of men from industrial areas such as the North East of England and South Wales joined the RND.

"They first went to Crystal Palace, then were transferred to Blandford where they carried out infantry training and learnt to dig trenches."

Jeremy said that apparently the remains of the trench systems can still be seen at Blandford Camp and there is also a memorial to the RND near Blandford.

He added: "After being withdrawn from Gallipoli the RND, and other regiments, spent some time on the Greek Island of Mudros.

"In May 1916 the RND, including the Royal Marines Light Infantry, was transferred to Army control and shipped to the Western Front.

"Here they were known as the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.

"On November 13 1916 the RND played a significant role in the last action of the Somme campaign - the Battle of the Ancre where more ground was gained than in any other part of the whole campaign."

Jeremey said he is hoping that some kind of commemoration will take place before the centenary passes.

"Very few people seem to know of the existence of the RND any more and I am afraid that their part in the Great War will be forgotten," he added.

*If anyone knows of any commemorations taking place in Blandford please get in touch with Jeremy by emailing jerniky@outlook.com

If you know of any commemorations to take place in Blandford I would be very interested and would probably make the effort to attend in memory of my great uncle.