Hunt for fallen soldier’s family
A SEARCH is under way to trace the family of a soldier who died after the Second World War’s “forgotten Dunkirk”.
Keller Len Scott survived the battle of St Valery-en-Caux in Normandy and was hidden by a French family.
But he was later discovered by the Germans and shot.
The battle on June 12, 1940, led to the capture of 10,000 Scottish soldiers from the 51st Highland Division.
The troops had continued fighting after the Dunkirk evacuations had been completed on June 4.
But a flotilla of rescue ships was unable to reach them due to fog and the proximity of German artillery.
Now, St Valery resident Patrick Prieur is on a mission to trace Mr Scott’s family.
Mr Prieur, 65, whose grandparents and father remained in the town throughout the war, said: “A soldier was hidden by a local family in the village. They bonded and the family learned he was a married man, with a wife and two daughters waiting for him to return home.
“For several weeks the soldier remained hidden, but regretfully he was eventually discovered by German troops and marched through the town to the municipal cemetery.
“After being forced to dig his own grave, he was shot. His death deeply upset the townspeople and especially my father, who was 11 at the time.
“His grave is marked as ‘Known unto God’, and my father tended to it for decades. My father had been gifted a piece of paper on which the soldier’s name was written and this became his prized possession.
“He wanted to find the soldier’s family to tell them what had happened and where he was laid to rest.
“In 2014 my father passed away and, being eager to finish what he started, I contacted Poppyscotland and the Highland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association to ask for help.”
Michelle McKearnon, from the association, said: “The name may have been written in military fashion, with the surname first, so the family name might be Keller.
“We’re now at an impasse so we need the knowledge of the wider community to continue our efforts.”