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WW1 British soldiers' remains reinterred 100 years after death | WW1 British soldiers' remains reinterred 100 years after death |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The remains of 15 British soldiers who died in World War One have been reinterred in northern France, 100 years after they were killed in battle. | The remains of 15 British soldiers who died in World War One have been reinterred in northern France, 100 years after they were killed in battle. |
Their remains were found during drainage work in 2009, close to the village of Beaucamps-Ligny near Lille. | Their remains were found during drainage work in 2009, close to the village of Beaucamps-Ligny near Lille. |
DNA samples were used to identify 11 of the soldiers from the 2nd Batallion of the York and Lancaster Regiment. | DNA samples were used to identify 11 of the soldiers from the 2nd Batallion of the York and Lancaster Regiment. |
The regiment drew mainly from northern England but also included men born in Surrey, Dorset and Nottingham. | The regiment drew mainly from northern England but also included men born in Surrey, Dorset and Nottingham. |
The soldiers were reburied with full military honours at a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Bois-Grenier near Lille. | The soldiers were reburied with full military honours at a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Bois-Grenier near Lille. |
They died in battle on 18 October 1914. | They died in battle on 18 October 1914. |
World War One Centenary | World War One Centenary |
The identified soldiers are: | The identified soldiers are: |
Work continues to identify the remaining four soldiers. | Work continues to identify the remaining four soldiers. |
Glyn Prysor, from the Commonwealth Games War Commission, said: "They came up against very heavy machine-gun and shrapnel fire, which had devastating results. | Glyn Prysor, from the Commonwealth Games War Commission, said: "They came up against very heavy machine-gun and shrapnel fire, which had devastating results. |
"They tried to advance several times but they were beaten back and really that was a foretaste of what would then happen over the next few weeks in what became the first battle of Ypres." | "They tried to advance several times but they were beaten back and really that was a foretaste of what would then happen over the next few weeks in what became the first battle of Ypres." |
The soldiers included Private William Butterworth, 36, from Lancaster, who had recently married and never saw his baby son. | The soldiers included Private William Butterworth, 36, from Lancaster, who had recently married and never saw his baby son. |
He was the first of four brothers who died during the war. | He was the first of four brothers who died during the war. |
Analysis: Radio Lancashire's Tim Padfield in Bois-Grenier | |
In October 1914, William Butterworth and his comrades ran into a hail of German machine-gun fire near the French village of Beaucamps-Ligny. | |
Fast forward a century and William was finally laid to rest on a brisk, clear day near Lille. | |
He was one of 32 men missing after that fatal skirmish. | |
He was also the first of four Butterworth brothers who died in the conflict. Their father also died in the war years - reportedly of a broken heart. | |
There were many hundreds of visitors crammed into the small cemetery today. A lot of them were descendants who had made the journey - a pilgrimage almost - from all parts of the UK. | |
Pte Butterworth's great-grandson Ian Birnie, who travelled to France for the ceremony, said: "When we were told that it was William, it was almost as if we'd lost someone only yesterday. | |
"It seems ridiculous as this happened 100 years ago, but to me, and to our family, this is a loss. | "It seems ridiculous as this happened 100 years ago, but to me, and to our family, this is a loss. |
"I get upset about it because there wasn't just one brother, but the funeral will give us some closure for the four brothers." | "I get upset about it because there wasn't just one brother, but the funeral will give us some closure for the four brothers." |
The ceremony was organised by the 4th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, which traces its history back to the York and Lancaster Regiment. | The ceremony was organised by the 4th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, which traces its history back to the York and Lancaster Regiment. |