‘Sacred soil’ from the cemeteries at First World War battlefield sites in Flanders where many millions died has been brought to Britain.

The soil, held in 70 sandbags, was added as a focal point to a new Flanders Fields Memorial Garden based at Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Walk in London which is being created to mark next year’s centenary of the start of First World War.

During the course of the summer 1,000 schoolchildren from Belgium and Britain filled sandbags with soil from each of the 70 Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries and battlefields in Flanders. After a ceremony on Armistice Day, under the arch of the Menin Gate – which commemorates all those British and Commonwealth soldiers killed in the First World War with no known grave – the sandbags were brought to London.

The Memorial Garden is intended to be a quiet place of reflection and contemplation. The central circular bed of the garden will hold the ‘sacred soil’ and will have the words of John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields inscribed upon it. The garden will be opened officially on November 9, 2014.

Diary dates - Today: The Parachute Regiment Association meets at 20.00hrs at Thornbury Barracks; The West Yorkshire British Korean Veterans Association meets at 13.30hrs at North Bridge Leisure Centre, Halifax.

Tomorrow: The RAF Association meets at 13.00hrs at Unit 16, Listerhills Science Park; The Royal British Legion, Bingley Branch, meets at 19.00hrs at 20 Heath Street, Bingley.

Thursday: The Royal Military Police Association meets at 20.00hrs at Pudsey Royal British Legion.

Friday: The RAF Regiment Association meets at 19.30hrs at Thornbury Barracks.

Saturday: The Borneo and Malaya Veterans Association meets at 14.00hrs at Headingley Club.

Monday: The REME Association meets at 19.30hrs at Slackside Working Mens Club.

Tuesday: The Royal Marines Association meets at 20.00hrs at Central Division Sports and Social Club.

In remembrance - The following are being remembered specially at Bradford Cathedral this week: George Henry Robinson, Jack Robinson, Joseph Robinson, Ronald Robinson, John Richard Robinson, William Robinson, Tom Robinson, James Henry Robinson, Gilbert Robinson, Leonard Rogers, Vernon Watson Rogers, Maurice Sydney Rose, Lewis Rotheray, Arthur Edward Rowley, Gordon Royston, Walter Hubert Rushton, Peter Russell, Arthur Ryecroft, Donald Hubert Robinson, John Robert Rowntree, Royston Harry Sharp, Ronald Scott.