TWO teenagers marked 100 years since one of the most brutal engagements of the First World War by completing their own fundraising cycle in tribute to those who perished.

Ben Elias and George Parish, both 17, set off on their bikes from the War Memorial in Hereford on July 31 – exactly 100 years to the date the whistles blew to start the Battle of Passchendaele.

By November 10 of 1917, more than half a million British and German soldiers had perished in appalling conditions.

The pair cycled past the Cenotaph in London before finishing at the Menin Gate in Ypres three days later, raising money for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Breaks initiative.

The friends, who attend Eton College but are from Garnons, had both studied the Great War at school and were both so moved by the sacrifice made by so many soldiers at Passchendaele that they wanted to do something to commemorate the battle on the 100th anniversary.

The Poppy Breaks initiative enables veterans who have been wounded or suffer from mental illness as a result of their experiences to go to Legion Centres for assistance, counselling or just a break.

Ben said: "There were ups and downs [during the ride]. The first two days we thought we were smashing it, then on day three the tiredness started to kick in. We had a couple of mechanical problems and it started to get a bit tricky and on day four we were just trying to get there and keep pushing.

"If I was on my own it would've definitely been harder but we fed off each other and kept pushing each other.

"We thought it would be a good idea whilst also looking back to commemorate those lives lots to also raise money for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Breaks initiative.

"Once we got there it became more real and we realised what a good thing we had done. People were coming up to us and congratulating us and saying 'well done'."

To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/benandgeorgepedalforpasschendaele