STORY
The previously unidentified grave of Private George Pert, a soldier from Ferryden in Angus, has been formally rededicated in his name more than a century after his death. The service was organised by the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Harlebeke New British Cemetery in Belgium.
Private Pert grew up in the fishing village of Ferryden before joining the Seaforth Highlanders. He was killed on 20 October 1918 during fighting around Harlebeke as Allied forces advanced across the Western Front during the final weeks of the First World War. His body was not recovered at the time and he was officially recorded as missing.
Research submitted by a member of the public established that Private Pert had been buried east of Harlebeke before his remains were moved to the new cemetery after the war. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has replaced the previously unnamed headstone with one bearing his name and the inscription selected by his family, “Gone too soon, but not forgotten.” Serving soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland attended the rededication service.