Leonard T. Koonce 
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Nine British WWI soldiers were laid to rest with full military honors at Ypres, the world’s largest CWGC cemetery, in the presence of its President, HRH The Duke of Kent.
The men’s remains were first discovered in 2018 and seven of the nine have been identified by the Joint Center for Accident and Compassion (JCCC) of the Department of Defense (MoD). They now rest under tombstones bearing their names and personal inscriptions chosen by their descendants in Tyne Cot Cemetery near Ypres in Belgium.
Despite all the efforts and extensive DNA testing carried out by the JCCC, the other two victims remain unidentified. One was buried as an unknown soldier of the Northumberland Fusiliers, while the other as an unknown soldier, of an unknown regiment.
The ceremony, organized by JCCC, was conducted by a funeral of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and in the presence of the descendants of five of the victims.
Alongside the Duke of Kent, our Vice President Sir Bill Rollo and Managing Director Claire Horton were able to witness the final farewell, more than 104 years after these men were killed in the service of their country.
Claire Horton, CEO of CWGC, said: “We are honored to have worked alongside the JCCC in the recovery and identification of these men and to now care for them in perpetuity at Tyne Cot, the largest CWGC cemetery. The fact that so many of them have been positively identified is a testament to the collective dedication that continues to this day, to remember our departed. ”
Nicola Nash, JCCC, said: “After working on this case for almost three years, it gives me a great sense of pride to see these men finally buried. It was wonderful to share this moving day with so many family members, who traveled to Australia to attend. The sacrifice these men made will never be forgotten.
Seven of the victims died on October 14, 1917. Lance Corporal Blakeborough was reportedly killed in a separate incident the day before. The soldier whose regiment is unknown was found separately and his date of death could not be established.
The re-buried men were:
2sd Lieutenant Leslie Wallace Ablett, 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 20
2sd Lieutenant Edward Douglas Bruty, 11th Northumberland Fusiliers Battalion, 21
Sergeant Thomas Feasby, 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 32
Lance Corporal Stanley Blakeborough, 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 21
Private Harry Miller, 11th Northumberland Fusiliers Battalion, 28
Private Joseph Patrickson MM, 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, 24
Private Arnold Sanderson MM, 11th Northumberland Fusiliers Battalion, 26
An unknown soldier of the Northumberland Fusiliers
An unknown soldier of the Great War
By GaryBlakeley – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https: //commons.wikimedia.org / …
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