Cumbria fallen WW1 soldier rediscovered after 107 years

Private Henry Clarke from Kirkby Lonsdale served in the 4th Tyneside Scottish battalion before dying during a trench raid in France in February 1917.

His final resting place has been uncovered, having been buried in an unmarked grave.

Henry Clarke (marked with blue cross) with the 4th Tyneside Scottish (Image: Edward Chapman)

The discovery was made by David Tattersfield, from The Western Front Association, during a visit to Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery between Neuve-Chapelle and Armentières.

David outlined: "Some years ago I had reason to visit this cemetery and, wandering along the rows, was slowly making my way back towards the gates when my eye was caught by a group of headstones which bore the same inscription - 'A Soldier of the Great War, 11th February 1917'.

"I did the research and discovered that there were only one particular group of men who this could possibly be - there were not an awful lot of over-the-top, big, set-piece battles that took place in the First World War in the winter."

Henry Clarke's resting place was not known until David Tattersfield came across it (Image: David Tattersfield)

The Tyneside Scottish was originally formed of men of Scottish descent from in and around Newcastle, though the bracket was widened after the battalion suffered heavy losses.

One of the 13 men, Captain Cedric Daggett, has had his grave formally redecorated by the Ministry of Defence owing to it having previously been identified as that of an officer when he was originally buried.

The relatives of the rediscovered soldiers. David Tattersfield can be found on the far left, with Edward Chapman on the other side of the bagpiper (Image: David Tattersfield)

Relatives of all the soldiers were invited to the rededication ceremony at Rue-Petillon on March 19.

One such relative is Edward Chapman, who explained: "Harry Clarke was one of three children to Robert and Mary Clarke who lived in Norwood House, Casterton.

"His younger brother Charles was my mother's father."

Henry as a boy with siblings Charlie and Freda (Image: Edward Chapman)

On July 1, 1916, the 4th Tyneside Scottish lost over 800 men, prompting new drafts from a wider part of the country - amongst these were Henry, along with the also recently rediscovered John Collett and Walter Guffick.

The Western Front Association is the UK's leading organisation dedicated to remembering those who served in World War One. 

Following his breakthrough work, Mr Tattersfield is hopeful that new members will come forward to join the 'entirely voluntary' group.