Stories of how loved ones died

after nine years of marriage, with four small sons.

Mrs Patterson, 56, who lives in Leeds, said Nelly had been “greatly comforted by the letter”.

She said: “The four boys and Nelly were very close and very poor, they were known not to have shoes.

“She never remarried, she lived for her sons.

“My father was a very peaceloving man, he was not a pacifist, he just thought it should have been the war to end all wars.

“None of the boys ever came to see Arthur’s grave. They said it would be too sad for them.

“But their children, and Arthur’s great-grandchildren, have come out to honour their 0 One of Lewis Moody’s ancestors fought in the battle grandfather and great-grandfather.”

The descendants joined senior royals and politicians including Prime Minister Theresa May later yesterday to pay tribute to their relatives and the thousands of others who fell at Passchendaele.

England Rugby World Cup winner Lewis Moody has spoken of almost breaking down in tears when he discovered he had lost a relative at Passchendaele.

The 39-year-old former flankerwasfilmingattynecot for an RFU film on rugby players killed in the battle when he discovered that his mother’s great uncle was one of those with no grave remembered at the burial site.

Mr Moody, who helped England to World Cup glory in 2003, said his mother and the rest of the family had no idea Ernest Lovejoy had fought and died in Belgium.

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