WW1 soldier honoured after local sleuth's research

Rona Houlton has spent more than 10 years researching Emmanuel J Foxton's story

A World War One soldier who died at home from combat injuries has finally been honoured with a Commonwealth War Grave after research by a local sleuth.

Rona Houlton spent more than 10 years tracking down information about Pte Emmanuel J Foxton after spotting his name on a Roll of Honour at St Mary's Catholic Church in Selby.

She discovered he was buried in an unmarked plot in St Helen's Church in nearby Escrick and contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) to get a headstone for him.

A service for Pte Foxton attended by military personnel will take place later today, and Ms Houlton said she was "thrilled he was being recognised at long last".

"It's just unbelievable, I didn't think such a thing could be organised," she said.

"It's just lovely, it's brilliant he's got his recognition and now he's got a headstone and a memorial."

Ms Houlton started investigating the names on the Roll of Honour in 2013 for a memorial display, in preparation for the centenary of World War One a year later.

Out of the servicemen from the parish who lost their lives, Pte Foxton's was the only death that did not have an associated listing on the CWGC register.

"I could find nothing of him," Ms Houlton said.

Undeterred, she started to research further, using online databases and liaising with the York Army Museum, who found diaries from the regiment he served in.

Over a number of years, she was able to piece together Pte Foxton's short life.

Born in Barlby, he lived in Leeds for a period during his childhood, before moving to Hemingbrough, five miles (8km) from Selby.

He joined the 2/5th battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment, also known as The Prince of Wales' Own in 1915, at the age of 18.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission erected the headstone in St Helen's churchyard

By 1917, he had been sent to the Western Front in France.

War diaries later detail that the regiment suffered poor conditions and "gas incidents causing multiple injuries", Ms Houlton explained.

Pte Foxton was sent home after a gas attack, but died in 1919 at the age of 22. His death certificate showed the cause of death was tuberculosis, caused by "gassing".

After contacting the church in Hemingbrough, she learnt that Pte Foxton could have been buried in Escrick instead, alongside his grandparents and his father.

Caroline and Roger Wandless at St Helen's Church then helped to comb through records, and found that he was buried in an unknown spot in the cemetery.

However, a ground investigation by Mr Wandless between burial plots showed a simple cross underneath the soil, suggesting it was Pte Foxton's final resting place.

"It was absolutely fantastic; for us to play just a small part in finding where he was buried was just great," Mrs Wandless added.

Caroline and Roger Wandless helped Ms Houlton find Pte Foxton's resting place

During her research, no living relatives of Pte Foxton were found, Ms Houlton said.

She then sent her findings to the CWGC who registered Pte Foxton, and in September this year, an official Commonwealth War Grave headstone was installed.

She described the first time she saw the new headstone as "very moving".

"I'm not an emotional person, but I stepped into the graveyard and you can see it if you know where you're looking - there it was, and I couldn't help crying," she said.

Later today, a memorial service celebrating and commemorating Pte Foxton's life and legacy will take place at St Helen's Church.

Military personnel from the West Yorkshire Regiment, alongside Selby MP Keir Mather, will be in attendance, and a bugler will play The Last Post.

Mr Wandless said since the event was announced, it had gained momentum and "snowballed".

"From what was going to be a simple service, it's grown and grown and will be quite the spectacle," he said.

Reverend Jackie Doyle-Brett said it was "a great privilege" for the church to hold a service for Pte Foxton.

Reverend Jackie Doyle-Brett said it was "a privilege" for the church to hold a service for Pte Foxton

"It's the culmination of a very long journey by Rona, and Roger and Caroline who have been involved in the last couple of years," she explained.

"It is a very special occasion, and a unique event for us but it's this real opportunity to honour and recognise someone who died of war wounds."

Ms Houlton will lay a wreath at Pte Foxton's grave as part of the service.

"I set out only to have a young man that I've come across with no recognition just to get him acknowledged - I don't like an injustice," she added.

"I'm just happy - I'm absolutely thrilled that he's got his recognition after so many years, that's all I wanted and he's going to get it."

The headstone was installed in September this year

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.