FOR the former leader of Redditch Council Albert Wharrad, there's an added personal poignancy to this year's Remembrance Day following the unlikely end to a decade of research on his uncle, who was killed in the First World War.

Two weeks ago Mr Wharrad, 79, was astonished to find what he believes is Thomas Wharrad's grave in France - despite records suggesting he had no known grave.

Headless Cross man Thomas was Mr Wharrad's uncle but also his mother Florence's first husband. She later married Thomas' brother - Mr Wharrad's father.

The clue which sparked the intriguing detective work lay deep in the records of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, in which Thomas served as a private.

Mr Wharrad knew he had been killed on March 11, 1915, during the bloody three-day British offensive at Neuve Chappelle.

More research suggested a Captain Charles Wood had been shot by a sniper on that day as he and others fought to shore up the front line near a village called Fauquissart.

But the records show only six other unnamed men from the 1st battalion were killed by shellfire on that fateful day - one of whom had to be Thomas.

Mr Wharrad and some friends travelled to France to visit the battlefields and find Thomas' name on the large war memorial at Le Touret.

When they arrived at Fauquissart, they decided to see if they could find Cpt Wood's grave in a small cemetery there.

They did - but to Mr Wharrad's amazement, there by the side of it were six others with 'A Soldier Known Unto God, 1915' inscribed on them.

"I would lay a bet that one of those is my uncle," said Mr Wharrad.

"They were all in a row by themselves along with Cpt Wood and since we know he and only six others from the battalion were killed at the same place on that day, it makes sense.

"Cpt Wood was shot, so was in one piece but Thomas and the others were shelled, so wouldn't have been identifiable.

"It's been a long quest and a very satisfying and moving one for me."