A FIRST World War soldier from Looe is to be recognised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission almost a century after his death, thanks to the efforts of the town's Royal British Legion (RBL).

Private Richard Edwin Yeo, who joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1915, was badly wounded on the Western Front in 1917.

He was invalided out of the Army six weeks before the end of the war, but died as a result of his wounds in 1920. While Private Yeo is remembered on Looe's War Memorial, he had not, up until now, been recognised as a casualty of war.

Dave Welch, of the RBL, said: 'After researching Looe's First World War casualties for the centenary of the start of the war, Looe's Royal British Legion took up Richard's case.

'After nine months of communication with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and arbitration by the National Army Museum, Private Richard Yeo will now rightly be honoured as a Commonwealth war casualty.'