'Boxing Day will always have special meaning now'

Newly discovered relatives of a World War One soldier who endured hellish conditions in the trenches, as well as being gassed by the enemy, said they would toast his memory on the 106th anniversary of his death.

Private Edward Price, from Atherton in Greater Manchester, died on 26 December 1918 - barely a month after the war ended.

He had been suffering from the after-effects of mustard gas, as well as heart disease caused by infections contracted in the trenches.

Until they were contacted by a professional genealogist, some of Pte Price's descendants, ironically living in the same town, had no idea about his story.

Eileen Lavelle said she was moved by the private's story when she read a BBC News story about him in November.

The Stockport-based probate specialist, who traces the beneficiaries of people who die without having made a will, said the article piqued her interest.

"Being professionally curious - or just plain nosy according to my husband Ged - is a requisite for my job," she explained.

Mrs Lavelle said she was immediately fascinated by Pte Price's story, noting that he had died just six weeks after the Armistice.

A miner by trade, Edward Price enlisted in the Wigan Pals battalion of the Manchester Regiment on 12 May 1915.

After nearly two years in France, he was sent home on 8 May 1918, suffering from the effects of mustard gas as well as heart problems caused by trench fever.

While Pte Price was discharged on 15 October and lived to see the end of the conflict, it still ultimately claimed his life.

Earlier this year, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) installed a new headstone at Leigh Cemetery.

The charity was unable to trace any of Pte Price's relatives to attend the unveiling of the memorial.

All that was known about him was that his widow was called Martha and they had four children.

"I thought it was so sad that no family knew about this for a war hero," said Mrs Lavelle.

"I resolved to use my genealogical skills to see if I could trace anyone."

Her successful efforts have delighted Pte Price's descendants.

"I was just shocked - I didn't really know anything about it," said his great-granddaughter Bethaney Lord.

The 32-year-old, from Westhoughton, added: "I never had any idea of him - nobody in the family had ever talked about it.

"Boxing Day will always have a special meaning from now on and Remembrance Day is going to be a lot more significant in our lives."

Ms Lord thanked Mrs Lavelle and said she had been "incredible to find so many people".

Mrs Lavelle said the process had given her even more satisfaction than tracing the lineage of celebrities for the BBC television series Who Do You Think You Are?

"This story was quite special because I traced relatives where the CWGC hadn't and told them all a little about their war hero relative," she said.

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