A SET of bells on a 300 mile journey to commemorate a First World War battle are set to go on display at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

The ring of eight bells have been case at the foundry of John Taylor & Co in Loughborough, Leicestershire for St George's Memorial Church in Ypres, Belgium.

But before they get there they will be part of the World War One Commemorative display at the popular event, which runs from August 24 to 28.

GDSF managing director, Martin Oliver, said: “On behalf of everyone at the GDSF, we are truly honoured that the trustees of the new bells have kindly agreed to allow the bells to attend this year’s show on route to St George’s Memorial Church in Ypres. 

"As part of the agreement, the GDSF is extremely proud to announce that we will be sponsoring the road transport costs from Loughborough down to the GDSF at Tarrant Hinton and then onto Ypres. 

With the July 31, 2017 marking the 100th Anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Passchendaele, officially known as the Third Battle of Ypres, to have the new bells attend this year’s show, as the 100th Anniversary commemorations of the Battle continue in Belgium, will be very humbling and poignant. 

"My sincere thanks go to Alan Regin and the fellow trustees of the Bells 4 St George Ypres for making this all possible.” 

The bells will be brought to the GDSF on First World War Dennis and Thornycroft army lorries owned by John Arthur and John Marshall from North Yorkshire with the same vehicles then delivering the bells via the Menin Gate Memorial to St George’s Memorial Church in Ypres where they will ring out over Ypres for a hundred years and more. Richard Cockcroft will also be assisting with the driving of the vehicles. Road transport will be provided by Stuart Ritchie of E & N Ritchie hauliers, Co Durham. 

St George's Memorial Church in Ypres, Belgium, was built between 1927 and 1929 to serve the British Community that had settled in Ypres following the First World War. It was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, who also designed the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in Ypres and the Cross of Sacrifice which stands in many Commonwealth War Grave Cemeteries around the world.