Names of two World War One soldiers identified

The headstones of two World War One "unknown soldiers" have been replaced with ones bearing their names following an investigation.

Lt Leslie Harvey, from Eastbourne, and Capt Gordon Cuthbert, from Sunbury in Surrey, both served in the Middlesex Regiment and they died near Ypres, Belgium, on 25 April 1915.

A rededication service took place for the soldiers, organised by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) on Wednesday at Sanctuary Wood Cemetery and Tyne Cot Cemetery, respectively.

Alexia Clark, from the MOD, said she was "grateful" for the department's research efforts to identify the stories of the two men.

"It has been a privilege to have contributed to these cases and to have organised the services of rededication," she said.

The MOD said Harvey, born in 1884, immediately signed up for the Army at the outbreak of the war.

He was deployed to Gibraltar in October 1914 and was promoted to lieutenant in February 1915 before heading to France.

By April 1915, Harvey reached Belgium and was engaged in fighting in the Zonnebeke area.

He was killed while leading a bayonet charge.

The MOD said although he was buried by his men near Ypres-Roulers railway, records of his grave were lost.

In early 1929, the body of an unknown lieutenant of the Middlesex Regiment was recovered from the location, identified by a shoulder title, his badges and buttons.

After an investigation, the MOD connected this unknown lieutenant to Harvey.

Cuthbert, born in 1876, was also deployed to Gibraltar for garrison duty until February 1915 when he was sent to northern Europe.

He was killed while taking an advance party which retook a trench near Ypres.

The MOD said in the chaos of war, immediate burial was "impossible".

He was therefore buried on the southern side of the Ypres-Roulers railway line.

Cuthbert's rank and regiment were determined from elements of his uniform, but his identity was impossible to establish at the time.

The MOD added he was therefore buried as an unknown Captain at Tyne Cot Cemetery.

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