A HEREFORD soldier has been identified nearly 80 years after his death in the Second World War.

Corporal Allan Edwin Griffiths's grave has been found near Bayeux in Normandy.

He was born in Hereford in 1909, and before enlisting with the armed forces, worked as a rates clerk for Hereford Council. He married Millie Langford in Hereford, and they had three daughters, Shirley Anne, Stella Margaret and Pamela Mary.

Hereford Times: Corporal Griffiths was born in Hereford and worked for the councilCorporal Griffiths was born in Hereford and worked for the council (Image: Griffiths family)

He enlisted into the Royal Armoured Corps in 1941 and began training. The following year, he qualified as a driver operator and was promoted to lance corporal, and then was promoted again to corporal in 1943. Having seen action in the Middle East, North Africa and Italy, he returned to the UK and was sent to the Army School of Chemical Warfare in the Lake District in 1944.

Later that year, on D-Day, he was brought to Gold Beach as part of the Battle of Normandy and Operation Overlord along with the rest of the fourth county of London Yeomanry. Supporting a battalion of the Gloucestershire regiment, they began advancing inland to bridges held by the enemy. The position became untenable and the opposition surrounded and attacked. 88 soldiers of the fourth country of London Yeomanry went missing, while eight were wounded and four were killed in action on June 13. 

Corporal Griffiths was last seen being treated for his wounds on the northern edge of Villers-Bocage, and the identification of his grave has provided closure for his surviving family.

His granddaughter, Alison Kelly, said: "The surviving family and descendants are grateful for the work in rededicating his grave. Those of us who are able to attend the memorial service will have the honour of representing all generations of the family, past and present, in particular Allan's late widow, Millie, and his three late daughters, Shirley, Stella and Pamela, for all of whom his loss was a source of lasting sorrow. The commemoration of Allan Griffiths at his final resting place will help bring closure for all the family."

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The other two soldiers identified were Trooper David Louis Morris, a qualified gunner operator from London, and Lance Corporal Neville Charles Skilton, a qualified driver operator from Kent.

Rededication services were held on September 21 at the soldiers' gravesides, organised by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and conducted by the Reverend Martin Robbins. These were attended by members of their families as well as serving soldiers of the Royal Armoured Corps and the Coldstream Guards. 

The Reverend Robbins said: "This week it has been a privilege to reflect upon the sacrifice and service offered by those young men and women in Normandy almost 80 years ago. This was no exception. May we never forget the cost they paid to purchase for us the liberty we enjoy today."

Rosie Barron, a MOD 'war detective', said: "It is important that the stories of these men live on."

Xavier Puppinck, a director for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), said: "The graves of these servicemen will now be properly recognised and will be cared for by CWGC forever."

Founded by the Royal Charter in 1917, CWGC works on behalf of the Australian, Canadian, Indian, New Zealand, South African and British governments to commemorate the 1.7 million people from the Commonwealth who died in the world wars.

They care for the late soldiers' graves and memorials and work to keep their stories alive through their charitable foundation.