Poignant journey to war graves for Bob

A pensioner from Shropshire is preparing to embark on a poignant journey to pay tribute to five relatives who lost their lives in the First World War.

Bob Davies, of Shrewsbury, is making the journey to highlight the horrors they suffered. He will travel to several battlefields near Ypres this August, alongside local historian Ken Bishop, to remember lost family members.

The 82-year-old has spent hours researching the Army career of each of the soldiers. They include his great uncle Frank Davies, from Mountfields, Shrewsbury, who fought with the Welsh Guards. He was killed in action in 1918 while fighting in Arras, at the age of 29.

Mr Davies will also visit the grave of his great uncle Frederick Jarvis, from Bayston Hill.

He was 32 when he was killed at the Battle of Mount Sorrell in 1916 and is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium.

Mr Jarvis's brother William, 40, was fatally injured during fighting near Ypres in 1915. He was brought back to England and died at Croes-Newydd-Road Military Hospital in Wrexham and is buried in Shrewsbury.

Mr Davies's great uncle Isaiah Jarvis, from Wellington, is remembered at the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial. The 34-year-old soldier was reported missing in action in 1915.

Mr Davies also plans to visit the memorials of his great cousins. They include William Grindley, of Castlefields, who was killed in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

Also John Pirie from Coton, near Edstaston, who was killed in 1918 aged 32. His memorial is at the Croisilles British Cemetery in France. And

Thomas Astley from Plex, near Hadnall, who was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 aged 20.

Mr Davies said: "There were very, very few families that were not affected by the war and I think it's important to remember what they went through."