Weymouth lost at least 41 men in the five month battle, six of them on the first day – but they were not all in the Dorsetshire Regiment.

Those that were included John Dobson, William Crumplin, William Green, Frederick Groves, H Hillier, William Hooper, Fred Palmer, Jack Scriven, John Sharpley and Ernest White.

In all, more than 4,500 of Dorset’s young men were killed in the Great War, another 16,000 survived, many living with terrible injuries.

In the 95 years since there have been many memorials erected in France and elsewhere – but never one to the Dorsets.

It is hoped it will provide a focal point for families and school groups from Dorset that visit the Western Front.