A charity set up to care for ex-servicemen is to publicise the island’s role in the First World War with a special poster and booklet to mark the centenary of the Armistice.

The Bermuda Legion has produced a poster with details of every Bermudian who served in “the war to end all wars” and a pamphlet on the origins and history of the conflict, as well as details on soldiers involved.

Carol Everson, welfare caseworker for the Bermuda Legion, said: “It includes the nominal roll of all who served in the First World War — a tremendous number of people served.”

She added: “I have been working on this and similar topics because, when I started for our veterans, I realised there was a great deal that hadn’t been recognised.

“There were people who had made a huge contribution with their war service in World War One and Two and there were stories that should be told that hadn’t been.”

The poster and booklet were unveiled in the run-up to the annual Poppy Appeal, which starts on Thursday,

A total of 544 Bermudians are recorded as serving in World War One, most of them in the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps, segregated units that would later came together to form the Royal Bermuda Regiment.

Some also served in the armed forces of other Allied nations, including Britain and Canada.

Ms Everson said that she had spoken in the past to elderly veterans who had heard the stories of men who had fought in the First World War.

She added: “It was fascinating, but some of the stories seemed lost and I didn’t think they should be lost for ever,

“It’s 2018, the 100th anniversary, and commemoration is taking place, so I asked the executive of the Bermuda Legion if we could bring out a book that could be used along with church services and for general education.”

Copies of the poster will be given to the Anglican Cathedral in Hamilton, the churches and the Royal Bermuda Regiment and schools.

Ms Everson said: “It’s very important for children to learn about this.

“It’s not glorifying war — war is a horrible thing, but sometimes things happen and good people have to stand up and do something about it.”

Ms Everson added that veterans of the Second World War are still alive, although frail and elderly and others who served, but never saw active service, were also ageing and needed assistance.

She said: “The Royal Bermuda Regiment was formed in 1965 and we now have very old soldiers who are living in conditions which could be a lot better,

“Everything we raise from the Poppy Appeal goes to Second World War veterans, their widows or those who support them.”

Ms Everson added: “There should also be something for the old soldiers, even if they aren’t war veterans.”

Ms Everson said that the Bermuda Legion could also help with applications to British service charities for those in need.

This year’s poppies will carry a green leaf in honour of the anniversary.

The poppy shop will be at Thistle House on Hamilton’s Burnaby Street this year and poppies will also be sold at the Anglican Cathedral and the Royal Bermuda Regiment, as well as by volunteer vendors in the streets of Hamilton.

Ms Everson said other churches or schools who wanted to sell poppies should contact the Legion.

• Anyone who wants to volunteer to help with the Poppy Appeal should e-mail nosoldierleftbehind@hotmail.com