A local lawyer whose great uncle was killed in World War I, and a former soldier who is a prolific poppy seller, made a poignant Remembrance trip to the battlefields of Belgium together.

Joe Maloney, who is from Ross-on-Wye, and Richard Dando laid wreaths during their three day visit to Flanders. They decided to make the trip after chatting at Gloucester Crown Court, where Richard is chief security officer.

The idea was hatched as solicitor-advocate Joe was chatting to Richard about his work with the Royal British Legion. Richard raises thousands of pounds every year selling poppies in the Crown court reception area.

“This led on to a conversation about the battlefields of Flanders and particularly about the area around Ypres, or ‘Wipers’ as British troops used to call it,” said Joe.

“This has a special significance for me as my great uncle, Joseph Murray was killed during the First World War and is buried at Elzenwalle near Ypres. He was only 21 when he was killed on June, 15th, 1915.

“Richard and I decided to visit Ypres and explore the area around the famous ancient town, visiting some of the most significant sites associated with the First World War.”

When Richard mentioned their plans to the Gloucester branch of The Royal British Legion they provided two wreaths, one to be laid at the memorial to the Gloucestershire Regiment and the other at Joseph Murray’s resting place.

Joe was named after Joseph. He was a soldier with the Monmouthshire Regiment and is buried next to another Monmouthshire lad, Lance Corporal Charles Bond, aged only 18, who was killed two days before him. It was agreed that the wreath would be laid between their graves.

Joe’s wife wrote a moving first person passage about her husband’s great uncle to which began

"My name is Private Joseph Daniel Murray, but you can call me, Joe. Here, right next to me is Charles Henry Bond. We’ve been here by each other’s side for more than a century. It wasn’t quite what either of us had in mind.

“I grew up in the Welsh village of Hafodyrynys. Even then, Charles wasn’t too far away. He lived at Birch Hill Farm in Pontypool. He joined the Armed Forces on the very day War was declared.

“My father, Michael Murray, served in the Army for 21 years. I wanted to follow in his footsteps and joined the 2nd Monmouthshires a year before the war.

“1915 was a tough year for our families. My mother, Elizabeth, passed away in February. On top of that father and my two sisters, Edith and Wynn, had to cope with my demise. That’s too much to bear. Amazingly though, some of my family still visit me after all these years."

Mrs Maloney’s tribute continued: “Charles knew what was coming. He told his mother in a letter just weeks before that he didn’t think they’d ever meet again ’in this world.’ His mother, God bless her, sent him a message of encouragement and a parcel to cheer him up. A real blow to lose your eldest son. He’d told his mother it was murder, not war.

Mr Maloney said:?“Richard was visibly moved after reading this piece. He brought great military solemnity and dignity and a true sense of occasion to our trip, especially when he laid the wreaths and saluted the graves and memorials while wearing his own medals.

“Travelling to Belgium via the Channel Tunnel had made us more fully aware of the fact that the carnage of the First World War did not take place far from our own shores.

“Each night we were there we attended the Menin Gate at 8pm where, since 1928 (apart from a brief period during the Second World War), the Last Post has been played every evening in honour of the memory of the British Empire soldiers who fought and died in Flanders.

“There are more than 54,000 names engraved on its walls - soldiers with no known grave who died in the First World War. Seeing the names of people from all over the world reminded us both that this truly was an international conflict.

Joe and Richards also visited Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest British war cemetery in the world and the Memorial Museum, where one can see a network of trenches and dug-outs and get some insight into the conditions the troops endured, as well as the German Military Cemetery at Langemark, recognising that there were many Germans, too, who died so very young in this ’war to end all wars’.

Richard added:?“It was an honour and a privilege to accompany Joe to Flanders. I had never been before and the experience was a real eye opener for me. Until you see these places you cannot appreciate the scale of the sacrifice that so many made. I was moved to tears at times and the visit made me realise more than ever before how important it is for us to buy our poppies every year and Remember Them.”