THE yellowing letters and creased photographs were the only tangible reminder of Richard William Jones - who died following a gas attack on the Western Front 85 years ago this month.

But these treasured mementoes, and the determination of his nephew to honour a man who, like so many of his generation, was lost during the First World War, led to two surprising discoveries.

Richard William Jones - named after his hero uncle - never forgot the bravery of the bombardier, who died aged 22 during the Battle of Ypres, in October 1917.

Like so many young men, he signed up for the Army at the outbreak of war, expecting a big adventure lasting six months at the most.

Tragically, Bombadier Jones, of the 12th Battery, 35th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, died in hospital of gas poisoning, leaving a widow and a two-year-old son, Jack, who eventually left County Durham.

Mr Jones, 64, known as Billy, of Quarrington Hill, near Durham City, inherited the letters and pictures and offered them to John Davison who was researching a book called Durham Men in the Great War, regarding it as an opportunity to honour his uncle's memory.

With Mr Davison's help, Mr Jones, a former miner, and his wife, Jean, used the Internet to pinpoint the location of Will's grave.

Determined to pay their last respects, they set off for Ypres, and found the grave in a cemetery near the Belgian border.

Mr Jones said: "In my mind, I just thought: 'I've found you'.

"I said: 'We'll find your son and let him know you are at peace and will rest now'."

Little did he expect that, on arriving back home, a letter was waiting for him from his uncle's son, Jack, and his wife, Sarah, who retired to Spain about 20 years ago.

They had heard of the book through a Durham relation and were keen to re-establish family ties.

Now Mr Jones and his wife have returned from visiting the couple in Alicante, on the Costa Blanca, where they showed Jack, now 88, photographs of his father's resting place.

Mr Jones said: "When Jack saw the book, he was overcome, because he didn't know anything about his dad or that he had a Jones family back in England.

"To me, my uncle was a hero."