AN amateur Belgian archaeologist is appealing to Bury Times readers to trace a First World War survivor.

Aurel Sercu is trying to find Edgar Coleman, who served with the 2nd Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers Regiment during the Great War, or any of his relatives. It is believed Edgar may have come from Bury.

Mr Sercu's research has already discovered that Fusilier Coleman enlisted in 1913 but was discharged in October, 1917, after being wounded in the Battle of Passchendale.

As a member of "The Diggers", a licensed team of amateur-archaeologists prospecting and exploring a World War One battlefield in Boezinge village, four miles north of Ypres, Mr Sercu has so far helped to find the remains, and identity, of 113 soldiers, most of them British.

However, while it is easier to find information on deceased soldiers, those who fought and survived are proving to be more elusive.

Mr Sercu said: "In November of last year I found some shreds of a rubber rain or tent cloth on the battlefield site. "It took me some time to decipher the handwriting of the owner, who appeared to have written his name on it twice, and his service number. After that somebody in England helped me to find more information about Edgar Coleman. Unfortunately, I do not know his residence, or the place or date he was born."

He added: "I know that Edgar Coleman's date is not much to start with, but maybe there is a chance that some Colemans related to him still live in Lancashire or Bury.

"If he was married he may have had children, grandchildren or great grandchildren"

If anyone can help Mr Sercu with details about Fusilier Coleman, write to him at Bloemendale 11, B-8904 Boezinge Ieper, Belgium, or e-mail him at: aurel.sercu@advalvas.be