A PENSNETT man has spoken of the emotional visit he paid to his great uncle's grave, 100 years after he died during the Battle of the Somme.

Bob Greenaway travelled to Rouen in France, to lay a wreath at the grave of Pvt. 18780 George Halford of 9th BN. South Staffs Regiment, who died on August 5, 1916.

According to records, the former coal miner from Sedgley was responsible for digging trenches and escorting supply convoys.

Mr Greenaway is unsure how his relative came to be wounded but said was transported by train to hospital at Rouen where he died from his injuries, aged 37.

He was then buried at St Sever Cemetery.

Details about their family member were scarce, but Mr Greenaway and his eldest cousin Pat Smith, were determined to find out more about him.

"About three years ago, Pat found out what regiment he was in and went over to Lichfield to see an officer there who have her all of the details she needed - what happened on the days leading up to his death and where he was buried," Mr Greenaway said.

"She went to visit the church and told me all about it when she came back.

"We were going to France anyway so we went and found it to be very moving to say the least. We have been two or three times since but I went again for the 100th anniversary of his death and took a poppy wreath from the Stourbridge RBL.

"It was very touching, I text Pat when I was there and told her and she replied saying George wouldn't have realised 100 years after his death that we'd be there.

"I get a lump in my throat when I think about the number of people from small communities who died for what was virtually just a war they thought would be over in weeks."

Mr Greenaway also took some soil from by the Swan Village war memorial, located opposite the Bramford Arms pub in Woodsetton, with him to lay at his great uncle's grave, so he could have "a piece of home" with him and took some French soil to place at the cenotaph.