Members of an east London branch of the Royal British Legion joined thousands of others on a pilgrimage to the WWI battlefields in Belgium to honour fallen soldiers.

Andy Milner and Paul Lesorte represented the Leytonstone community at the GP90 in Ypres last week, acting as standard bearer and wreath layer respectively.

The five-day event marked the 90th anniversary of the 1928 pilgrimage which saw 11,000 veterans and war widows remember the dead 10 years after the war ended.

Janet Franklyn, membership secretary of Leytonstone RBL said: “It was an absolute honour to have been asked.

“There was a fantastic atmosphere there with people who came from all over the world to visit the battlefields.

“We are really proud that both men went and represented the legion and the community of Leytonstone.

“When we were asked to take part we obviously said yes straight away.

“It means a hell of a lot to us.”

The pilgrimage culminated on Sunday with a march which took RBL members through the streets of Ypres to the Commonwealth War Grave Commission’s Menin Gate Memorial.

A ceremony was held at the gate to commemorate the launch of The Hundred Days Offensive.

Ms Franklyn, who took up her role as membership secretary in June, is encouraging people living in Leytonstone to join the RBL, regardless of their background or age.

“What I’ve noticed in the past few years in young people seem to be really interested in the work we do,” she said.

“I just think we have got some very brave members of the armed forces who come out and need to be looked after not just physically but mentally also.

“And I think it means a lot that we look after men and women who have defended us and looked after us.

“I have been on Facebook trying to get people involved. I’ve had quite a good response.”

The Leytonstone branch of the Royal British Legion has 32 members. It meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 8pm in Leytonstone Fire Station in High Road.