Brother's trip to war grave

A six-decade-old promise by a pensioner to visit his elder brother's war grave in Italy has been fulfilled.

Don Priest was just 10 years old when, during the Second World War, he waved goodbye to his Grenadier Guardsman brother Jim at Birmingham's Snow Hill Station, little knowing he would never see him again.

Earlier this month, Mr Priest, who is now 73, was able to make good on his childhood vow to visit his brother's grave after his daughter Nicole, and her fiance David Alexander, tracked it down to Minturno War Cemetery between Rome and Naples.

Mr Priest, a retired engineer who lives in Hill Top, West Bromwich, said his brother had survived duty in North Africa and Italy, but died in action in the first battle of Monte Cassino.

"When I was 10 years old he came home on embarkation leave, and when he went back we saw him off at Snow Hill – I even carried his rifle for him," Mr Priest said.

"It was the last time I ever saw him; he was 20 when he died. He fought through North Africa, and Sicily, but he died at Monte Cassino on January 30th, 1944. We don't know how."

Mr Priest said he had pledged to one day visit the grave, but that it had come as a surprise when his daughter and future son in law had traced its location via the internet.

Along with Mr Priest's wife, Brenda, they went to Rome last week and made the journey south to visit Guardsman Priest's final resting place.

"It was very moving, I know it sounds corny, but I as I wept, my tears actually fell on my brother's grave," he said.

"People should know that if they've got loved ones buried in that cemetery that it is beautifully maintained, and that they will not regret visiting it if they can."