The son of a former Sandringham worker who fought in the Gallipoli conflict has launched a campaign to remember those who served in the tragic First World War battle.

John Crowe, whose father Robert was sent off to the Dardanelles in 1914 along with other men from Dersingham and Sandringham who were part of the 4th and 5th Battalions of the Norfolk Regiment, travelled to Turkey to launch the Gallipoli and Dardanelles International campaign with representatives from other nations that fought in the conflict.

'As we approach the 100-year anniversary of Gallipoli, we believe that the lessons of those bitterly contested few months and the remembrance of the thousands who fought and fell, of all nations, should be maintained and perpetuated,' said Mr Crowe, who is also holding a memorial service at St Nicholas Church in Dersingham at 2.30pm today to mark the sacrifice.

'We also believe strongly that children and young people should be helped to understand and appreciate the importance of the events here.'

As the centenary of Gallipoli approaches the organisation, which will be chaired by Mr Crowe, is planning a comprehensive international programme of events, including leading remembrance occasions and an international conference on the Gallipoli peninsula in autumn 2015.

A detailed website giving people information about what happened at Gallipoli has also been set up to help raise awareness and there will be extensive engagement with youth groups and schools.

Many of the men who fought in the battle between February 1915 and January 1916 were from the Dersingham and Sandringham area.

However, many were killed as the bloody conflict claimed the lives of possibly 214,000 Allied troops and 300,000 Turks, and ended in failure for Allied troops, who did not succeed in their attempt to take the Ottoman capital of Constantinople.

Mr Crowe's father was one of those fortunate enough to survive, although he suffered a shrapnel wound in his back.

The campaign was widely thought to be flawed, with many soldiers not properly trained and local men led by the ageing Captain Frank Beck, who was portrayed by the actor David Jason in the film All the King's Men.