Among those taking part in the Passchendaele Walk is Iain Mulholland (33), a driver with the Royal Logistics Corps who is originally from Lochlea Road, Kildrum.

Iain says he can't wait to set off on the historic 20 mile walk which will take place over two days. "We're really looking forward to it," he says.

The aim of the trip is to raise £10,000 for armed forces mental welfare charity Combat Stress, as well as commemorate the upcoming 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Iain, a former pupil of St Mary's Primary and Our Lady's High School who has served everywhere from Kosovo to Ireland and Germany, says that apart from being from a Forces family, he and everyone else in the group know the dangers that soldiers face. "We've all lost somebody so it's a really good cause," he explains.

The 14-strong group (ten walking with a support crew of four) will initially meet in Aldershot for a service at the Garrison Church at 11am on Sunday, August 3, then travel to Calais by ferry, and then set off for the French/Belgian border where the walk will begin, at 8am on August 4.

Starting at the Abele chocolate shop, the journey will include laying wreaths at the Execution Post at Poperinge and again at Mennen Gate, Ypres, when they finish the next day. They will also be singing wartime songs during the trip.

Iain describes the period outfits they'll be wearing as 'Dad's Army-style', saying: "They are going to be authentic, down to carrying the rifle, and we'll be wearing the tin hats."

The married dad-of-two adds that the uniforms at the time were made of wool - which could raise their temperature if the sun shines over them in August.

This concern over hot weather is echoed by the man who is supplying the uniforms. Nick Hall, of military costume shop Sabre Sales in Southsea, Hampshire, is providing the kit for a nominal fee, and jokes: "The sweat will be dripping off them all over my uniforms!"

The shop owner gives an insight into conditions for WWI soldiers, saying: "The old uniforms will chafe - but the group will be wearing modern boots as period ones would rip their feet to pieces."

He explains the meticulous authenticity of the outfits, saying: "We have given the soldiers badges to represent the regiments they are in now, and in WWI the Royal Logistics Corps was known as the Army Service Corps. They will also have 1908 pattern webbing."

He is fully supportive of the charity endeavour, saying that soldiers suffering from mental health problems is by no means a problem relegated to the past.

"It's an excellent cause - you see the news every day and you see the situations that soldiers are being put through which are similar to those in WWI," he says. "We are wishing them very well."

The trip was initially organised by fellow soldier Mike Garrett who undertook the same journey last year. The 41-year-old said: "I am from Wales, but we found out that my great-uncle who disappeared in WWI was from Scotland, and in the Scottish Ninth Division.

"We found his grave after 86 years - he died of his wounds in the Ypres salient on May 26, 1918 - and I thought that to coincide with the 90th anniversary of WWI it would be a good idea to do the walk wearing the authentic uniforms.

"I did it on my own last year, and this time Iain has been the most enthusiastic of everyone taking part."

Combat Stress is the only charity to support British ex-servicemen and women who have been profoundly traumatised by harrowing experiences on active duty.

Michael adds: "Combat Stress is a good charity to support as there have been so many people on active service in the last few years."

Founded in 1919, the charity offers both short-stay remedial treatment at three specialist centres and a regional welfare service supporting clients in their homes. Volunteer and community fundraising officer Kelita Groom said: "We help veterans from the Armed Forces and Merchant Navy, from all ranks and all conflicts and of all ages through a nationwide network of welfare officers and short stay remedial treatment centres in Surrey, Shropshire and Scotland.

"The demand for our care shows no signs of abating; we take on over 900 new veterans each year.

"We have never been busier and are already working with a growing number of veterans of the Iraq War and the conflict in Afghanistan to add to the list of the many men and women of less recent conflicts and peacekeeping operations who currently need our help and support.

"Combat Stress is absolutely reliant on volunteer fundraising in order to maintain the unique service we provide to ex-servicemen and women who have been psychologically injured through active service. We have a lifetime commitment to all our veterans to ensure we offer support long after the battle is over.

"With a £3.3 million fundraising target this year, Mike's contribution couldn't come at a better time."

The 1917 Battle of Passchendaele took place near Ypres where the walk ends, and saw some 300,000 British Empire troops and 260,000 Germans lose their lives.