Haslingden born soldier, Lance Corporal Fred Ramsbottom, has been laid to rest in France more than a century after his death.
In early March 2020, a de-mining operation on the northern outskirts of Lens on land designated for a new hospital—led to the discovery of human remains. On 9 March, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was notified, and a careful archaeological excavation followed. The remains indicated the grave was lost in the chaos of battle.
Artefacts recovered at the site showed the soldier had served in the Suffolk Regiment and died after 1916. The Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’, launched an investigation to identify the fallen soldier. Research narrowed the search to five missing men from the Suffolk Regiment in the area. Following genealogical investigation their living descendants were traced and DNA proved that the remains were those of Lance Corporal Fred Ramsbottom.
Lance Corporal Ramsbottom was killed on 27 April 1917 while serving in the Loos sector. Of the nine soldiers from his battalion killed between 23–28 April, five—including Fred—had no known grave and were commemorated on the Loos Memorial to the Missing.
Today, Fred Ramsbottom has finally been reunited with his comrades.
Fred’s family paid heartfelt tribute to him with moving words that reflect both their grief and pride:
“Just when his hopes were brightest, Just when his thoughts were best, He was called from a world of sorrow, To that land of eternal rest.”
“When justice stands triumphant, And comes the peace we crave, There still shall be remembered, The unreturning brave.” No
