A CHANCE find has resulted in a search for the relatives of a Radcliffe soldier who died in the First World War.
Private Willie Briggs was killed in action on September 1, 1918, aged 24.
Eighty four years later, a lady by the name of Mrs K. Roberts bought a book entitled Mr Kennedy's America, by Bernard Newman, in a second-hand bookshop in Blackpool. Tucked away in the pages, was a commemorative bookmark of the young soldier.
Puzzled, but aware that it was of great sentimental value, she sent it to an address in Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, which was printed at the bottom of the bookmark.
And last week the occupiers of the house, who are not relatives of Willie, contacted the Radcliffe Times to see if we could help return the bookmark to his rightful descendent.
As Remembrance Sunday approaches, nothing would give us more pleasure than presenting the bookmark to Willie's relatives. If you can provide any information about them, contact Neil Brandwood on 0161 762 6450.
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