WW1 soldiers buried 108 years after death

Four British soldiers who were killed in World War One have been reburied in France with military honours.

The remains of Arthur Cook, Robert Cullum, John Fraser and William London, all privates of 1/5 Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, were found during work to construct a hospital near Lens.

The men, who were all from Grimsby and part of the same Lewis gun team, died on 5 May 1917 during the Battle of Arras.

On Tuesday, descendants of the men joined military personnel for a service at Loos British Cemetery Extension, close to the spot where they died.

The soldiers' remains were discovered in summer 2020 during preparatory works for the foundations of the hospital.

Found with them were shoulder titles indicating they were members of the Lincolnshire Regiment along with small box respirators – not issued until August 1916 - and a pair of boots with a 1917 date stamp on the sole, which aided identification.

Alexia Clark, from the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the Ministry of Defence's "war detectives", said: "It has been a privilege to research this case, to be successful in identifying these four men and to organise their burial service.

"When you consider half a million men are still missing from the first and second world wars, every one we can identify feels like an achievement.

"I am delighted that the four men have now been laid to rest alongside their comrades in a dignified burial which they had been denied for so long."

Ms Clark said the team was extremely grateful to the Royal Anglian Regiment who provided the bearer party and firing party for the service, and to the families of the men who attended.

The graves will now be cared for by Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

David Royle, commemorations casework manager at the CWGC, said: "Following the recovery of these casualties by our specialist team in 2020, it was a privilege to investigate the identification of privates Fraser, London, Cullum and Cook alongside all of those recovered from the site where the Lens hospital now stands.

"It was an honour to be a small part of their story, especially since the names of these four casualties are now known and we can provide a peaceful resting place where future generations can visit.

"We will continue to care for the graves of these four brave men in perpetuity."

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