More than a century after their deaths, four soldiers from Grimsby have been buried in northern France following their discovery during hospital construction works near Lens in 2020.
The men (members of the Lincolnshire Regiment) were found with uniforms, respirators, and boots dating from 1916–1917, helping investigators pinpoint their likely time of death. Research by the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre later identified them as Privates Cook, Cullum, Fraser, and London. DNA analysis confirmed their identities after tracing their descendants.
The soldiers, believed to have fallen in battle around May 1917, were laid to rest at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Loos British Cemetery Extension on 21 October 2025. Relatives of the men attended the service, marking the end of a century-long uncertainty about their fate.
The burial was organised by the MOD’s “War Detectives” team, with support from the Royal Anglian Regiment, which provided the bearer and firing parties. The soldiers’ graves will now be maintained in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, ensuring their names and service are preserved for future generations.
Image credit: GOV.UK
