WEST Fifers are invited to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of World War I at a vigil in Dunfermline Abbey on Monday.

The Right Reverend John Chalmers, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and abbey minister Reverend MaryAnn Rennie, will lead the service. The vigil, at 10pm, will comprise music, prayers, poetry and scripture readings and end at 11pm, the very hour 100 years ago that Britain declared war on Germany.

The Rev Chalmers encouraged West Fifers to come together and reflect on the events, saying, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it. When we think of the number of casualties – 15 million soldiers and civilians were killed.

“That’s the population of Scotland three times over. There wasn’t a single family that wasn’t affected by it. We’re beginning here in Scotland to hold commemorations that will continue for the next four years, starting with this one. I hope that we will get the idea embedded in people’s minds, if we spend the next four years thinking of the terrible tragedy of the First World War, that perhaps it will make a difference in the way politicians behave and how we as nations should behave to one another.” The service is open to all and the Rev Chalmers said the emphasis was on commemoration.

He said, “More and more people nowadays visit the war graves in Europe and more people are tracing their ancestry and finding their grandfathers or great-grandfathers who fought or were lost in the Great War.

“Don’t be afraid to come to church, maybe people who don’t have a connection with the church but know people who died or suffered will come to the service to remember them in a quiet and respectful way.

“My own son was injured in Afghanistan and it means a lot to me that we understand that the priority of the day should be making peace and not making war.” In 2011, John James (JJ) Chalmers was seriously injured in an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attack in Helmand province. The Marine reservist, then 23, had been on duty with 42 Commando and suffered appalling injuries to his arms, face and legs.

Fellow Marines Sam Alexander (28), from London, and Lieutenant Ollie Augustin (23), from Kent, died in the blast. The Rev Chalmers said, “He’s doing very well but he still has a couple of operations to get through, to improve the nerves and fingers of his left hand.

“He only has two fingers on his left hand and they don’t work at the moment, but he’s strong and back on his feet.”