A WRITER and historian from Hilmarton believes a lack of respect has been shown to a former Trowbridge soldier who is buried in Trowbridge Cemetery.

Richard Broadhead, who has penned six Wiltshire history books, is angry with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission because they have put the wrong badge on Ernest Bennett’s headstone and have placed it 150 yards from his plot.

Mr Broadhead is also frustrated because it has been six years since he requested the headstone and he was not informed when it was put in place.

He said: “The crest for the Royal Air Force has been put on Ernest’s headstone but he served in the Wiltshire Regiment.

“The Royal Air Force hadn’t even been formed when Ernest died. It just shows a complete lack of respect and a lack of attention to detail from people who should know better.

“Everyone seems to put the War Graves Commission on a pedestal and they are viewed as the elite commemoration organisation for the work they do in France and Belgium but they can’t even get a headstone right for a former Trowbridge soldier.”

Mr Bennett lived in Mortimer Street and volunteered on September 1, 1914, soon after the outbreak of war and was sent to France in November.

In the run-up to Christmas 1914 he served with the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment in trenches at Kemel, Belgium, but by February 1915 he was admitted to a hospital in Liverpool suffering from frost bite and rheumatism.

He died on Christmas Day morning in 1916 at his home in Trowbridge at the age of 30, and was buried in the cemetery with full military honours.

Mr Broadhead added: “We know where Ernest is buried but the headstone they have put up is around 150 yards away. You'd think after 100 years they should be able to get that right.

“There is a sign which says ‘He is believed to have been buried in this cemetery’”

“Imagine how you’d feel if your relative was buried in the cemetery and read that – you’d think the grave had gone missing.

“There’s a complete lack of pride, which is a shame.”

A War Graves Commission spokesman said: "A new headstone has been ordered as a priority and will arrive in January.

"We will do our best to erect it as soon as we can. We have apologised to Mr Broadhead for the error with the current headstone."