RELATIVES of a Halesowen soldier who died in World War I are being urged to get in touch with government chiefs – to give their ancestor the chance of a full military burial.

Two British soldiers killed in action during the final stages of the Great War laid where they fell in a French battlefield for nearly a century until their remains were discovered by a farmer in 2014.

Several years’ worth of research has produced a shortlist of potential candidates that may help uncover the identity of these brave men.

And Halesowen-born Private Albert Jones is among the men identified as possibles by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre.

Private Jones, who served with 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, was born in 1897 in Halesowen, one of eight children of Joseph and Hannah Jones.

He had five sisters (Mary, Polly Elizabeth, Eva, May and Bertha) and two brothers (Aaron and Moses).

The 1911 census shows the family living at 42 New England, Long Lane, Halesowen.

It is believed Albert’s eldest sister, Mary, married John Thomas Jones and had a daughter, Beatrice May Jones, who died in Dudley in 2009.

She was married to James Stansbie – their daughter, Linda, who was born in 1949 is believed to have married and lived in the Dudley area. She and her family may still be there.

Louise Dorr from the JCCC said: “I would really love to hear from Linda Stansbie or her family.

“Although I haven’t managed to find descendants of any of Albert’s other siblings, if anyone knows of their whereabouts, please get in touch.

“As there are only four Middlesex Regiment soldiers missing from this battle, we should have a good chance of identifying these two casualties.”

Family members will be invited to take a DNA test to see if they are related to either of the two casualties.

If positive identifications can be made, the soldiers will be buried with full military honours later this year or early next and their graves will bear their names.

Louise added: “It’s especially poignant that these men died just a few weeks before the end of the Great War.

“Their deaths would have devastated their families, who probably carried that grief all their lives, especially as they had no grave to visit. Please help us to bring these individuals’ stories to an end.”

The remains of the two servicemen were found in a farmer’s field near Villers Guislain in France.

This area was significant for the Battle of St Quentin Canal which was fought between September 29 to October 2, 1918.

There are only four soldiers from 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment who were killed between those dates and still have no known grave.

If you can help, call Louise on 01452 712612 extension 5465 or email louise.dorr100@mod.gov.uk