A MEMORIAL has been unveiled at the West Somerset grave of a First World War veteran – 96 years after his death.

George John James Wall served in the Leicestershire Regiment but was invalided out of the Army as an amputee in 1917.

He lived another 10 years before dying of his injuries at the age of 34 in 1927.

However, by then he was not entitled to an official War Grave and his burial plot next to St Etheldreda’s Church, West Quantoxhead, was left unmarked and over time became forgotten.

Now, after a three-year search by great-granddaughter Jacquie Howell, who lives in London, his grave has been located and a memorial stone laid during a moving family service.

Mr Wall’s two surviving daughters, Monica Bridger, who is 101 years old, and Iris Thompson, aged 95, were among family from all over the country and abroad who attended the service, which was led by the rector, the Rev Nicky Morgan.

Also taking part in the service were Royal British Legion Somerset chairman Robert McDonald who lives in nearby Williton, standard bearer John Gallop, bugler Phil Griggs, from Stogursey, and Mrs Howell’s cousin Yvonne Thrumble, who is a legion standard bearer in London.

Mr Wall lived at Landshire Farm, a stone’s throw from St Etheldreda’s Church, and taught in the St Audries estate house which at the time was a girls’ school.

West Quantoxhead historian, author, and church archivist Duncan Stafford helped Mrs Howell to track down the burial plot.

Mrs Howell said the memorial service had been a moving occasion for the family and had brought together relatives who had not seen each other for many years.

She said: “It was in some respects the end of one journey but the start of another one connecting with family we have not seen since we were children.

“For my aunt, who did not quite know where her father was, it was almost like a closure for her.

“My mother, who lives in Alicante, was able to watch the whole thing as it happened on Facetime.

“We worked out there are 96 direct descendants and we said we would come back on remembrance Sunday.

“We agreed we are going to make an annual pilgrimage and will share family things with each other.”

Mrs Howell said a number of rare documents had been uncovered by family members, such as an engraved certificate presented to Mr Wall when he was discharged from his regiment, some of them on fragile parchment.

“There are a lot of things that really need to go into archives,” she said. It was extraordinary.

“I saw my great-grandfather’s will, which all soldiers carried with them, and the original red envelope it was kept it. I had never seen anything like it.”