Centennial memorial service to remember Shropshire regiment soldier
A centennial memorial service is being held to remember a Shropshire regiment soldier who was killed in a battle in which another member of his battalion - Oswestry's Private Harold Whitfield - won the Victoria Cross.
Private Charles Edward Griffiths was 28 when he died on March 10, 1918, in Palestine, and is buried in a military cemetery in Jerusalem.
The memorial service will be held on April 7, which is 100 years to the day after the original memorial service in 1918, and will include the same readings.
"It will involve an act of remembrance featuring the Royal British Legion, the local scout and guide group, and hopefully local schoolchildren," said Private Griffiths' granddaughter, Julia Ray, who is from Chester.
"It is hoped that all 37 direct living relatives will be able to attend the service. The service is open to everyone, and anyone with a connection to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry would be most welcome."
The service will be held at St Boniface's Church, Bunbury, Cheshire, at 10.45am.
"While much will be written during this coming year on the battles in France, our family and the people of Shropshire must never forget the eastern front and the part the KSLI played in the capture of Jerusalem after centuries of Turkish rule."
Private Griffiths' name appears on four memorials - as Charles Edward on two of them, but as Edward on the other two, perhaps indicating he was known as Edward, to distinguish him from his father, who was also Charles Edward.
A farmer, he lived in Cholmondeston, near Crewe, and joined the Cheshire Yeomanry in 1911 - in an amalgamation it was later to become the 10th Battalion of the KSLI.
He left a widow and a son.
Julia's husband Trevor said they did not know the exact circumstances of his death in battle, nor whether he had known Private Whitfield, who was also in the 10th Battalion of the KSLI.
