Epsom residents marked the centenary of the death of Sergeant Thomas Green Monday (June 17), who died in 1919's infamous Epsom Riot.

Residents held a number of ceremonies throughout the week, culminating in a memorial service held earlier today at the grave of Sgt Green at Ashley Road Cemetery.

Sgt Green died after he was struck with a metal bar on the side of the head by one of the rioters.

The riot was made up of Canadian soldiers stationed in Britain after the First World War's conclusion in 1918.

When two among them detained by Epsom Police after an altercation at the Rifleman Pub, hundreds of the commonwealth troops assembled outside the police station near Woodcote Park, violently assaulting the premises in an attempt to free their countrymen.

In the melee that followed, one of the rioters fatally injured Sgt Green, before the handful of police officers despatched to guard the station and those inside freed the prisoner and ensured the rioters left.

Monday's ceremony was attended by the descendants of Sgt Green, including his great grandson David Kirkham, who gave a short speech to those in attendance.

Also present at the ceremony were members of Surrey Police, the Metropolitan Police, the Police Memorial Trust and the Royal British Legion, plus the Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, Councillor John Beckett.

After the ceremony, an exhibition and talk about the Epsom Riot and its legacy was held at the Methodist Church during Monday afternoon.

Cllr Beckett was also present at a previous medal ceremony held for the centenary last Wednesday (June 12).

The Mayor was given the aged medals awarded to Sgt Green during his career by Mr Kirkham (pictured).

He subsequently offered a short speech in which he praised the community's response to the riot both at the time and all these years later.

Cllr Beckett's words reflected on the key context of the riot — its proximity to the horrors of the First World War — and the impact it had on the British and Canadians involved alike, before highlighting the positive impact of Epsom's reaction.

"The community of Epsom has always been close and the death of Thomas Green, a well-liked servant of our town, killed in the service of our community, stunned Epsom to the extent, that 100 years later, the event, is still remembered.

"His death could have led to more disturbances and hatred between the locals and our international ally but a combination of swift action by both the Canadian and the British authorities, this community’s resilience and, I suspect, following the war, a revulsion of conflict by all sides, ensured this did not happen," Cllr Beckett said.

"On behalf of the borough of Epsom and Ewell, I accept the gift of Sergeant Thomas Green’s medals in the spirit of reconciliation, as a symbol of our abiding friendship with the Canadian people and with sincere thanks to his family – he will not be forgotten," the Epsom and Ewell Mayor added.