THE quest to identify the body of a Worcestershire Regiment soldier found beneath the First World War's most infamous battlefield has taken a significant step forward after an Evening News investigation.

The remains, discovered by workers digging a cable trench near Ancre British Cemetery on the Somme, in November, 1995, are believed to be one of 10 14th Battalion privates.

The soldier was killed during the Battle of Ancre on either Monday, November 13, or Tuesday, November 14, 1916 - 85 years ago this week.

The breakthrough follows months of research involving Commonwealth War Graves Commission officials in France and staff at the Regiment's Norton archives.

After the Worcestershire's body was exhumed by CWGC officers in 1995 - along with the remains of two other British soldiers - it was thought he was one of 66 missing men of the 10th or 14th Battalions.

But detailed analysis of troop movements in the Battle of the Somme - which lasted from July 1 to November 18, 1916 - reveals that he fell near the British front line and close to the location of two half-companies of 14th Battalion.

The CWGC has also traced the names of the 10 missing men - but narrowing the list further is proving difficult.

Post mortems now routinely carried out on newly-found remains were not conducted in 1995, so no detailed clues are available.

Personal papers reported to have gone missing from the trench, after being seen in it by a CWGC gardener, have also still not turned up.

The investigation has now reached into a dark underworld of people who make a living out of selling relics and artefacts taken from the battlefield.

It is hoped that the dealers and collectors may yet reveal a vital clue to the identity of the unknown soldier

Ultimately, the probe aims to secure sufficient proof to have the soldier's name put on his headstone in Ancre cemetery.

Lt Col Pat Love, spokesman for the Regiment, said that quest remained vital 85 years on.

"People write to us searching for information and it brings home to us that these men aren't just names.

"It's sad that so many people don't seem to know what happened to them. At least we should be able to see where men are buried. This is important."