Graves of missing World War One soldiers identified

7 hours ago

Daniel SextonSouth East

News image — Research has revealed that Lionel Weller Sandell was buried in Zantvoorde

Ministry of Defence A black and white image of Lionel Solly Weller Sandell. — Research has revealed that Lionel Weller Sandell was buried in Zantvoorde

The graves of two soldiers who died in World War One have been identified in Belgium.

The previously unnamed graves have been identified by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as Lance Corporal William Voice MM, from Horsham, and Worthing's Lance Corporal Lionel Weller Sandell.

Voice served with 8th Battalion Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment and died near Zillebeke on 1 August 1917. And Waller Sandell served with 10th Battalion Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment and died near Comines on 29 September 1918.

Services for both soldiers took place on Tuesday.

Ministry of Defence Family and military party stand at the headstone of LCpl Voice MM. — The soldiers, from Horsham and Worthing, were identified by research at the Ministry of Defence

Voice was killed in repeated shelling, but his remains could not be identified.

His name was placed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the missing in Ypres.

In the summer of 1921, the remains of an unknown British soldier, the winner of a military medal, and a member of the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment were recovered at Klein Zillebeke.

At the time, it was not possible to identify him, and he was buried at Bedford House Cemetery as an unknown soldier.

The MoD said that research had now connected the remains with the last known movements of Voice.

Ministry of Defence A black and white image of William Voice and his wife. — William Voice MM's name was placed on Menin Gate Memorial to the missing in Ypres

Weller Sandell joined the war aged 14 but was killed in open warfare in ground fog close to Comines in 1918.

Fog was so thick that day that troops had to withdraw from an attack, so records which may have been made of his death were lost. His name was placed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the missing at Ypres at the conclusion of the war.

The MoD said that research had since revealed he was buried in Zantvoorde.

Alexia Clark, from the MoD, said: "I am grateful to the two researchers who put such a lot of effort into discovering the stories of these two men.

"Their work has led us to recognise the final resting places of Lance Corporals Voice and Sandell, to restore their names to them and to allow their families to honour their sacrifice."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.