TWO people with a rich family history of serving their country during times of conflict will join the Queen at Westminster for a prestigious memorial service.

Dr Elizabeth Atkinson and Terry Rooke, both of Torquay, are among a select few to receive invites to the commemoration of the First World War generation.

Other dignitaries attending the November 11 event will include Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The service was arranged after the death of 111-year-old Harry Patch, Britain's last veteran of the First World War.

Dr Atkinson and Mr Rooke sent an application for two tickets, citing the battle experiences of their various relatives who fought honourably for king and country.

Only 13 pairs of tickets were allocated for Devon, but the Torquay duo's application was so impressive the invites were dispatched immediately.

Dr Atkinson said: "My father, John Naylor Hodgson-Wilson, was a captain in the Royal Horse Artillery, and he saw service on the Somme and Ypres.

"He was awarded the Sword of Honour, which I have, and we still have his hand-written notes of experiences in the trenches — although only my mother could decipher his writing.

"On The Somme he was badly gassed with mustard and phosgene gas, and his radial artery was severed in his left arm."

John Naylor Hodgson-Wilson was sent back to London for medical treatment, and his arm was saved.

Records show that during his active service he saved D Battery twice and was commended for his bravery. He was mentioned in Dispatches twice.

However, owing to difficult communications the citation was only sent out in duplicate, not triplicate — otherwise he would have been awarded the Victoria Cross.

Dr Atkinson added: "If he were living today, my father would have been three months older than the late Harry Patch. But, sadly, he died of lung cancer."

Terry Rooke's connections with the First World War are traced to his grandfather, John 'Jack' Rooke, who joined the Royal Fusiliers in 1890 at the age of 17.

He was a Queen Victoria soldier who was awarded the Tibetan Service Medal of Honour.

This medal was donated to the Tower of London, to which the Royal Fusiliers had a special attachment.

There are only two such medals in the Tower of London's collection.

Dr Atkinson said: "Apparently, in the Battle of Tibet, at which Terry's grandfather fought, 2,000 men were sent out, but only 400 returned.

"Subsequently, his grandfather was a non-commissioned officer in the First World War, because in those days you had to buy your commission, and he could not afford it.

"He was awarded the 1914-18 service medals as well as the Mons Star."

The Westminster service is expected to attract international interest, with BBC1 broadcasting it live from 11am.

Despite the fact that those invited to the ceremony must cover their own costs, it is understood hundreds of ticket applications came from all over Devon.