Prisoners of war who died on prison hulks moored at Chatham have been remembered in a special service attended by British and French dignitaries.

The French Prisoner of War Memorial service was held at the St George’s Centre in Chatham Maritime and members of the Medway Towns Sea Cadets provided the guard of honour.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Medway, Cllr Stuart Tranter and his wife Sarah, attended with Major Olivier Renard, President of Souvenir Français UK, the French equivalent of the British War Graves Commission. Also present was the former newsreader Jan Leeming who was representing Souvenir Français.

Cllr Tranter said: “It is a short but very moving ceremony, coming a week or so after Remembrance Day. We very much appreciate the presence of the French dignitaries who joined me in laying wreaths.”

Major Renard said: “I have been coming to this service for the last 15 years or so, and it is with a sense of gratification that Medway council remembers our historic war dead in this way.”

The service was led by the mayor’s chaplain, Peter Marchand, and the citation, read in both English and French, recalls the hardships endured by the prisoners.

During the Napoleonic wars, prison ships were moored in the river at Chatham and those who died were buried in the marshes.

The extension of Chatham Dockyard and the creation of St Mary’s Island, meant the bodies had to be moved and they were eventually re-interred beneath the memorial behind the St. George’s Centre.

Anyone may attend the annual service. Email mayor@medway.gov.uk for information.