Forgotten Bradford on Avon soldier to be given last honour
3:00pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in News By Craig Jones
Author Richard Broadhead at the grave of Pte Frederick Kyte in Bradford on Avon cemetery. The soldier has now been commemorated for his service during the First World War
The grave of a First World War soldier from Bradford on Avon will finally be commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Private Frederick George Kyte joined the 8th Battalion Regiment Wiltshire, based in Trowbridge, when he volunteered for National Service aged 15 on January 13, 1915.
He served for two years before developing lung trouble, thought to be tuberculosis, and he was discharged from the army on June 27, 1917. He died from the illness at his Bradford on Avon home on December 7, 1919.
His grave at Bradford on Avon Cemetery has been untended for many years but, thanks to lengthy research by volunteer history group Finding the Forgotten, it will be commemorated with a CWGC gravestone and added to the National Role of Honour.
History author Richard Broadhead, who carries out research for Finding the Forgotten, said: “All Private Kyte’s records were destroyed so we didn’t know a great deal about him. We’ve found who he served with, that he was the youngest son of John and Ester and that he died before they did.”
Mr Broadhead, 47, of Hilmarton, said in every town cemetery in the country there are between five and 10 servicemen from the First World War who have not been commemorated.
Finding the Forgotten has found five other servicemen, Private Albert Fry of Hullavington, Gunner George William Hicks of Shrivenham, Private Donald March of Redlynch, Lance Corporal John Martin of Devizes and Cadet Reginald Walter Sloper of Devizes, who are also due to be commemorated.
The group’s case study research, which aims to ensure those who have been overlooked get the tribute they deserve, is passed on to the CWGC, which then forwards it to the Ministry of Defence for confirmation.
Mr Broadhead said: “We have to piece information together using documents and other information. It is quite sad that there are a lot of guys out there like this and it is like they never existed.
“Tracking the servicemen down is almost like being a detective and you just have to follow a hunch.”
For more information, or to pass on details about service personnel who have not been commemorated, call 07788 563444 or email enquires@ wiltshiresoliders.co.uk
