THE discovery of the skeletal remains of Private Arthur Foster of the Airborne Battalion of the Border regiment (Letters, September 15) moves on a little.

After a good deal of searching by the MOD, a niece has been discovered not many miles from here.

Pte Foster died at the Battle of Arnhem, 60 years ago and was hastily buried in an unmarked battlefield grave at the height of the conflict, to be discovered only during recent workings. Such events are not rare among historical battle zones.

There will be a military funeral for Pte Foster in spring next year, when he will be laid to rest alongside comrades in the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek-Arnhem.

From then on, at appropriate times, his grave will be honoured together with all others as schoolchildren lay flowers on each grave respectively and speak aloud the name of the warrior they individually honour.

As one Dutch gardener there said of the dead to a Blackburn friend, 'They are in good hands'.

The continued devotion of the Dutch is a wonder to be felt rather than understood in view of the seven months of starvation and privations imposed by the victorious Germans for giving full support to their "Airbornes" when, without blame, they could have exercised some of Falstaff's discretion.

LEO HALL (PRO Central Lancashire Branch Parachute Regimental Association), Regent Road, Leyland.