Soldiers to be laid to rest 110 years after deaths

The remains of Sgt John Smith were uncovered in a French cave 15 years ago

Two soldiers killed in a World War One battle 110 years ago are finally going to be laid to rest.

Sgt John Smith from Gloucestershire and Gunner Charles Lightfoot from Edinburgh served with the 29th Battery of Royal Field Artillery.

They died during the Battle of Aisne in France in September 1914, but their bodies were not found until 2009.

Their families will travel to France next week to pay their respects to the fallen soldiers on behalf of their late relatives, who never found out what happened to them.

Sgt Smith and Gunner Lightfoot were presumed missing until 15 years ago, when French historian Jerome Buttet discovered an inscription in a cave near Chassemy.

It read: "15 Sept 1914, Here lies Sjt Smith and 3 Gnrs, 29th Battery RFA".

Mr Buttet brought in archaeologists, who discovered two sets of remains in the cave.

Ministry of Defence (MoD) detectives at Imjin Barracks in Gloucestershire carried out research and DNA testing, which allowed them to identify the two fallen men as Sgt Smith and Gunner Lightfoot.

This inscription in the cave led to the identification of the pair

Sgt Smith's great nephew, Andrew Smith said he was "amazed" to receive a message from Gunner Lightfoot's granddaughter in 2018.

"I've known about my great uncle since I was a small boy, but the information I had was quite scanty," Mr Smith, who lives in Willsbridge near Bristol, said.

"He was my grandfather's brother, and I was very, very fond of my grandfather.

"To be able to pay my respects to him, I'm almost doing it for my grandfather."

Gunner Lightfoot's daughter - Sue Kruk's mother - never knew him

The incredible discovery has brought the families of the two soldiers together.

Gunner Lightfoot's granddaughter Sue Kruk, who lives near Portsmouth, got in touch with Mr Smith to make him aware of the discovery.

Ms Kruk was told about her grandfather as a young girl, and was "delighted" to receive confirmation that the remains were that of Gunner Lightfoot.

"It means the world, I know how much it meant to my grandmother and my mother," she said.

"It's closure at long last."

Relatives Andrew Smith and Marcus Gibbons had no idea the other existed until a few months ago

Marcus Gibbons, from Malmesbury in Wiltshire, is also a great nephew of Sgt Smith.

He and Mr Smith did not know each other until the MOD investigation, but will both travel to the Vendresse British War Cemetery in France, along with other family members, for the reburial service next week.

Mr Gibbons said he was not made aware of Sgt Smith until two-and-a-half months ago.

"It's great he's finally being laid to rest with respect," Mr Gibbons said.

"I think it's incredible work that the war detectives have done in identifying him.

"It's a shame he was taken so young."

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