Anyone who knows me knows I have a particular love for our countries war heroes – the brave men who fought for the freedoms we enjoy and many of whom paid the ultimate sacrifice for that freedom with their very lives. I can’t begin to tell you how many of them I have discovered within my own family tree since I started researching but today I was moved and blessed to discover yet another one to add to the ranks of brothers and cousins within my family who fought together and died together. They are all special to me.

This surprise discovery today was borne out of a gift of papers, photos and documents from my mother-in-law that I have been processing this week  and it never ceases to amaze me what can come from just one document. The uploading of a birth certificate for Maurice Finn (my husband’s 1st cousin 3 times removed led to the discovery that he fought as a Private with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and lost his life in France during WW1 on 10 January 1917. What was even more amazing to me was the discovery of the headstone that marks Maurice’s final resting place in the Faubourg-d’amiens Cemetery in Arras, Calais. The lady who had taken the trouble to take the picture and preserve it has since herself passed away and will never quite know just how much her efforts mean to the family members who subsequently come along and discover these precious images. It just added to the emotion of the discovery today to read of her efforts in preserving history even though what she was preserving was not of her own family. How thankful I am for everyone who “gets it” and works hard to help others discover their heritage.

And so with that said, I made this simple slideshow (with my husband’s technical help!) to honour this man whose sacrifice will always be remembered and who will have a special place in my heart.