Members of the public are invited to attend their local fire station on Thursday evening to mark an enduring tribute to the fallen soldiers of World War One.

Every evening since 1928, with the exception of the war years 1940-1944, the Last Post has been played under the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in Ypres, Belgium. Thursday 09 July 2015 will witness the 30,000th time the daily ceremony has been performed by buglers from the local volunteer fire stations.

The Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service will be joining firefighters throughout the world in hosting commemorations to coincide with the official Last Post event in Belgium.

All seven Isle of Man stations – Douglas, Peel, Ramsey, Castletown, Port Erin, Laxey and Kirk Michael – will be marking the occasion, which will feature the reading of a commemorative text followed by a moment of silent contemplation. A bugler will be in place at each station in the Island to play the Last Post, the traditional final salute to the fallen.

Chief Fire Officer Kevin Groom will lead the commemorations at Douglas Fire Station. He will welcome guests at 6.45pm, with the Last Post being sounded at 7.00pm. Similar arrangements will be in place at the Island’s other six stations

The daily tribute at the Menin Gate is organised by the Last Post Association as a way to remember the many thousands of casualties from World War One, including those whose bodies were never recovered. Originally, the Last Post was the bugle call that announced the end of the working day for soldiers.

The official ceremony in Belgium will be streamed live on the internet and further information is available at http://www.gonewest.be/en/last-post/30000th-last-post.