LYME REGIS: Crowds gathered to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of a Royal Navy battleship in Lyme Bay in which more than 500 people died.

More than 100 people paid respect at Lyme Regis town cemetery on Tuesday – marking 100 years after funerals took place in the cemetery following the sinking of HMS Formidable. The ship was sunk after being torpedoed by a German U-boat on New Year’s Day, 1915.

Rev Jane Skinner led a ceremony in honour of the 35 officers and 512 men who lost their lives in the tragedy – before wreaths of remembrance were laid.

David Manners, vice-chairman of the Lyme Regis Royal British Legion, said: “We remember the sinking of HMS Formidable every year, but it’s great that so many people have turned up for this commemoration.

“The sinking of the Formidable affected so many people and so many different communities. We have even received a letter from those in Liverpool as a lot of the crew were from that part of the country.”

Commodore Jamie Miller said: “It’s very important for the armed forces that we get the community behind us and this commemoration has brought us all together.

“It’s crucial that everyone, even from younger generations, really care about the loss of life and this brings it all home.”