St Albans Council’s Leader paid tribute to First World War servicemen at the inauguration of France’s International Memorial of Notre Dame de Lorette on Tuesday.
The ‘Ring of Remembrance’ memorial at Ablain Saint Nazaire, north-west of Arras, lists the names of 579,606 men who died in northern France in the 1914-18 war.
The concrete ring was unveiled by French President François Hollande at an Armistice Day ceremony to mark the end of the war.
Inside the ring are 500 sheets of stainless steel listing the names of soldiers who died on near-by battlefields alphabetically rather than by nation or rank.
Councillor Julian Daly, leader of St Albans District Council, was invited to the inauguration ceremony along with leaders of other British Councils.
He said: "It was an honour to represent St Albans District and to pay respect to the soldiers who died in northern France during the First World War.
"The vast, unique memorial lists the names of British soldiers alongside those of others who died, alphabetically and without reference to nation or rank."
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