Search to find 'forgotten' Bristol WW1 serviceman's family

To mark Remembrance Sunday the BBC laid a wreath at Mr Dunn's grave

Historians say they have been inundated with enquiries as they search for the living relatives of a "forgotten" World War One serviceman.

The history of Harry Dunn, from Brislington, has been re-discovered in the last 20 years by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

They recently created a new headstone for him at Arnos Vale in Bristol and appealed for relatives to come forward.

Researchers now believe there are "several" living relatives out there.

Mr Dunn enlisted in the South Midland Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery in 1915 and went on to serve in France and Belgium on the Western Front until 1917, when he was transferred to Italy.

He returned home to the Brislington area of Bristol at the start of 1919, but died of pneumonia only a month later.

As he was still in service when he died, he was eligible for a Commonwealth War Graves headstone as a World War One casualty.

Jen Baldwin, a research specialist from online genealogy service Find My Past, said it is now thought someone with the same last name or the surname Keepin could be related.

"We picked up the story after seeing the BBC's report and it was exciting to delve into his background and history," Ms Baldwin.

"Because his military history had been pretty well documented, we were able to find his family actually and his origins.

"We believe that there are several living descendants of Harry Dunn through his Keepin family, which is his maternal family.

"So essentially the message today is, if you have a Keepin surname in your family tree and you are in the Bristol area, you should reach out and try and make that connection."

Simon Bendry said it is "always a challenge" to track down family members

Simon Bendry, from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, said: "It is a really interesting story that for over 100 years Harry had all but been forgotten.

"His grave had not been marked following his death in 1919, and it was only after research in the last couple of decades that it was discovered."

Mr Bendry explained that the commission always seek to make a connection with family members and had been shocked by the "huge reaction" to their initial appeal.

"It's been really important for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission... to have that connection with the family.

"Initially to ensure those graves were marked for the family, to ensure their loved ones were remembered, but more recently it's ensuring that those generations that have followed are still connected to that story and the sacrifice of their kin who died during World War One and World War Two," he said.

Anyone who thinks they may have a family link to Mr Dunn is being asked to contact the commission via their website.