Grave of missing First World War officers from Bedfordshire identified in Belgium
More than 110 years after their deaths, the lives of two second lieutenants who served in the Bedfordshire Regiment in the First World War have finally been remembered in the presence of their families.
A rededication service, organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) – also known as the MOD War Detectives – was held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Railway Dugout Cemetery for Second Lieutenant Esmond Lawrence Kellie.
Kellie was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant on January 1, 1915 and transferred to the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment shortly after. On April 19, 1915, he was injured in the thigh while defending a trench his battalion had captured at Hill 60, and was killed by a shell as he was stretchered from the area.
A letter sent home to his parents by lieutenant-colonel Griffith DSO described him as a “most courageous and useful officer… very popular with all in the regiment”.
Kellie was buried on Hill 60, but his grave was lost in the chaos of war.
On or around October 5, 1924, an unknown British second lieutenant of the Bedfordshire Regiment was recovered from an unmarked grave at Hill 60 and reburied at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground. The casualty’s partial identification as an officer of the Bedfordshire Regiment was made from the buttons and badges he was wearing.
A similar service was planned for second lieutenant Eric Arthur Hopkins at CWGC Bedford House Cemetery, but Storm Benjamin meant it had to be changed for a service of remembrance at St George’s Memorial Church instead.
Hopkins originally joined the 2nd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment, arriving in France in October 1914. He was injured later that same month, and on his return to the front, he transferred to the 3rd Battalion.
At the time of his death he was attached to the 1st Battalion, who were engaged in the struggle for Hill 60 – a small area of slightly raised ground which was a strategic advantage to whichever side held it.
On or around September 8, 1922, an unknown British officer of the Bedfordshire Regiment was recovered near Hill 60 and reburied at Bedford House cemetery. The casualty’s partial identification as an officer of the Bedfordshires was made from his boots, clothing and buttons. A further nine soldiers were recovered from the same place at the same time, and three of these were identified as men of the 1st Bedfords who died on May 5, 1915.
Alexia Clark, JCCC caseworker, said: “I am grateful to the researchers who originally submitted evidence suggesting the location of second lieutenant Kellie and second lieutenant Hopkins’ grave. In rededicating their graves today, we have reunited their mortal remains with their names, ensuring that their sacrifice will not be forgotten.”
The headstones over both graves have been replaced.