Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Youngsters honour hero - a century on
Great great neice and nephew’s graveside visit
Proud young relatives of a heroic soldier from Airdrie who gave his life for his country have visited his grave 100 years after his death.
Private Henry Flavell was killed in action in Belgium on March 27, 1916, aged just 27-yearsold during his loyal service to the Scots’ Guards in the First World War.
A century later, Henry’s great, great niece and nephew, Victoria Hudson and Euan McKenna, had the honour of paying tribute to Henry at his graveside.
The teenage pair of Airdrie Academy pupils were on a school trip to Belgium to visit the war graves of the brave men and women who sacrificed everything for their country.
Victoria and Euan’s great grandfathers were Henry’s younger brothers and they laid a Remembrance Cross on Henry’s grave before Airdrie Academy chaplain, Reverend Robbie Hamilton, delivered a poignant prayer.
The reflective youngsters got the chance to honour their relative’s memory thanks to the support of staff at Airdrie Library, as Henry’s great nephew, Douglas Flavell, explained: “It is quite uncanny that, 100 years after Henry fell, Victoria and Euan were able to make this journey; they are quite possibly the first relatives of Henry to visit his grave.
“Before this, and unknown to each other, family members were intrigued by the campaign led by Airdrie Library which highlighted the war and the sacrifices made by local men and their families.
“Victoria’s mum Valerie delved into the library archives and painstakingly working through hundreds of microfiche articles and unveiled newspaper cuttings which reported Henry’s death at the time.
“Euan’s mum Margaret then sought to establish exactly where Henry’s grave was in Potijze Chateau Wood cemetery.
“Towards the end of 2014, I saw the photographs of the fallen soldiers covering the library’s staircase walls, but was unable to find a picture of Henry.
“I then made enquiries and was told about the database information that had been collated by the local studies officer at the library, Allan Mackenzie.
“I asked if I could have a copy of an article that included a photo of Henry and Allan kindly provided me with it.”
Douglas added: “So much was given to the war effort by many families. Henry was the second eldest of eight children and two of his brothers, who were old enough to serve, were severely wounded in action during the war and discharged and returned home.
“It is fitting that Victoria and Euan had the opportunity to visit Henry’s grave on the centenary of his death and we continue to be grateful for the sacrifice he and those like him made so that we can all be free today.”
They are possibly the first relatives to visit