As we reach the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, Alan Swift has completed his book about the history of just one village's involvement in that most horrific of conflicts.

Mr Swift was born and grew up in Lower Halstow and has lived there almost all his life.

His book, Abide With Me, charts the histories of those who left the village to fight and also the effects of the war on those who stayed behind.

The tome has been decades in the making. He said: "About 40 years ago I was visiting a museum at Ypres and I happened to notice in one the showcases a mention of a solder from Lower Halstow.

He said: "What jumped out at me was that the soldier was from Westfield Cottages, which was where I grew up.

"It sparked my interest and ever since then I've been researching and gathering material."

Over the years Mr Swift has used his discoveries to mount several historical exhibitions, but at the age of 87, and with his own health beginning to fail, he decided he really ought to put it altogether in a book for future generations.

He said: "Hopefully it will be a record that tomorrow's children can use to help them understand what their great grandparents or great great grandparents went through."

The 1911 census recorded the population of Lower Halstow at 550 - that was men, women and children, Yet 106 of the men were called away to serve in the forces - and 23 never came home.

But those at home suffered too. During the war the fleet was anchored off Sheerness, and Mr Swift catalogues the disasters that befell HMS Bulwark and HMS Princess Irene. Both blew up - probably as a result of mishandled munitions, with the loss of more than 1,000 lives. Among those killed was George Watts, a dockyard matey from Lower Halstow.

A more fortunate occurrence was the presence of an anti-aircraft gun of the edge of the village. Vibration from it's firing caused the plaster on the font in St Margaret's Church in the village to crack - revealing that beneath was a 12th century Norman lead font, one of only 30 such remaining in the country.

The title of the book Abide With Me is taken from the stained glass window in the church.

It depicts Christ visiting a soldier in the trenches and was a design commissioned by Brigadier General Roland "Boys" Bradford who intended to use it as Christmas card to his men - a plan cut short by his death in action.

His aunt was the wife of the vicar at St Margaret's at the time, and the Rev Edward Olive used the design instead for his church window.

Bradford was awarded the Victoria Cross and so was his brother George, a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy, who was also killed. They are the only brothers to have both been awarded a VC.

Mr Swift's family suffered their own casualties. He said: "I had two great uncles killed in the war: James Gilbert and Laurence Holdstock. Laurence had lied about his age to sign up a year early."

Mr Swift's own military career fortunately was less traumatic, He did two years' National Service from 1949, but never left Britain. His unit had been designated to deploy to Malaya during the Malayan Emergency, but the troop ship due to pick them up broke down, and they never got there.

He saw a further five years service with the Territorials.

Mr Swift, from School Lane, Lower Halstow, said: "I've spent years visiting the battlefields of France and Belgium and been to every war cemetery. "

He is also a founding member of the Western Front Association, dedicated to preserving the history of the Great War.

Lower Halstow has a series of events planned to mark the centenary of the Armistice.

They start with an exhibition on Friday, November 9, mounted by Mr Swift in the Memorial Hall. He said: "This will be of wider interest than the book, because I've included some details of families who live in the village now, but who weren't here in 1914."

It will be followed at 7pm by a sing-a-long and readings from some of the war poets.

On Saturday, November 10, from 10am to 4pm, there is a Trenches Lunch in the Memorial Hall which will coincide with the official launch of Abide With Me. Mr Swift will be there to sign copies.

In the evening, from 7pm, there is a Homecoming Hop Dance, entrance by ticket only, from 01795 842272.

On Sunday 11, there will be a piper in the church at 6am, followed by a torchlight procession and an Act of Remembrance

The full remembrance service will begin at 10.30am with wreath laying and a reading of the Roll of Honour.

In the evening will meet at The Brickfields at 6.50pm where the Last Post will sound followed by the lighting of the village beacon.