THE grave of a Malvern war hero has been officially re-dedicated.

A team of volunteers has been helping to restore the monument to Captain Alan Charles Lorraine Bate, who was killed in France in 1918.

Captain Bate's memorial stone had been put onto its side, so veterans Tony Hacon and Tim Kidwell decided to have it restored.

Joined by Malvern Town Council, they were able to repair and replace the stone, and a special ceremony was held on October 25 to unveil it.

The task of restoring the grave involved getting specialist advice on how to have it reset.

Mr Hacon and Mr Kidwell are veterans of the Royal Artillery, the same regiment Captain Bate served in.

The service was held on the 103rd anniversary of Captain Bate's death.

In attendance were three members of the Royal Artillery Reserve Battery, the modern day descendant of the Captain's unit from the FIrst World War.

Also there were Adrian Wright, county chairman of the Royal British Legion and David Williams, the county standard bearer.

Kevin Street, a music teacher from the town played the Last Post and Reveille over the grave during the ceremony, conducted by the Revd. Tony Whalley.

John Bate-William, one of Captain Bate's surviving relatives, said: "It was a remarkable day, a fascinating and moving ceremony, and it was wonderful to see Alan remembered by such a wonderful company.

"Little would those who were at his graveside in 1918 have dreamt that Alan’s sacrifice would be commemorated more than a century later, with Regimental comrades in attendance."

Mr Hacon and Mr Kidwell also thanked the groups and people who helped fund the project.

Special thanks were sent to Humanihut and the Malvern Civic Society for their donations towards the cost, as well as the Royal Artillery Institution.

Mr Hacon said: "Without all these people and their generosity in giving of time and money, this project could not have been completed and Alan Bate’s grave would have remained a poor reflection of his memory."