07-07-2025
Northamptonshire WW2 soldiers' graves identified in Normandy
The graves of two soldiers who died during the Battle of Normandy have been formally identified 80 years Ministry of Defence (MoD) officially identified the graves of Trooper Francis Dominic Kelly and Trooper Victor Terrence Little of the 1st Northamptonshire Yeomanry at a service in France on 26 three had previously been listed on the Bayeux Memorial to the missing, with no known Little, the nephew of Trooper Little, said: "There had always been a sadness that Victor's remains had never been found. We'll always be grateful for the work in enabling us to attend the rededication service of dear Victor on behalf of his parents and siblings."
The identifications followed collaborative research by the MoD's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), known as the MoD War Detectives, alongside the National Army Museum and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).Private John Aneurin Protheroe of 2nd Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment was also formally recognised at the same caseworker Rosie Barron described the event as "a strong reminder that the fighting in Normandy did not end on D-Day, but was hard won by the Allies".
'An honour'
New headstones bearing the soldiers' names now stand in place of previously unmarked Read, commemorations case officer at the CWGC, said it was an honour and a privilege to have been involved in the research that led to the identification of the troops. He added: "This now allows the Commission to care for their named graves in perpetuity."
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