Normandy soldiers' graves named after 80 years

Trooper Francis Dominic Kelly (pictured) and Trooper Victor Terrence Little of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry fought during World War Two

The graves of two soldiers who died during the Battle of Normandy have been formally identified 80 years later.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) officially identified the graves of Trooper Francis Dominic Kelly and Trooper Victor Terrence Little of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry at a service in France on 26 June.

All three had previously been listed on the Bayeux Memorial to the missing, with no known graves.

David Little, the nephew of Trooper Little, said: "There had always been a sadness that Victor's remains had never been found. We'll always be grateful for the work in enabling us to attend the rededication service of dear Victor on behalf of his parents and siblings."

The two soldiers from Northamptonshire now have named graves at Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery in Normandy

The identifications followed collaborative research by the MoD's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), known as the MoD War Detectives, alongside the National Army Museum and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

Private John Aneurin Protheroe of 2nd Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment was also formally recognised at the same service.

JCCC caseworker Rosie Barron described the event as "a strong reminder that the fighting in Normandy did not end on D-Day, but was hard won by the Allies".

'An honour'

New headstones bearing the soldiers' names now stand in place of previously unmarked graves.

Fergus Read, commemorations case officer at the CWGC, said it was an honour and a privilege to have been involved in the research that led to the identification of the troops.

He added: "This now allows the Commission to care for their named graves in perpetuity."