THE family of a Bury man who fought in the Second Boer War and the First World War has honoured him with a grave stone in the USA.

George William Walsh, born in 1882 in Bury, moved to New Jersey with his family as a young man for work, but during the First World War he enlisted with the Canadian Army so he could fight for the Commonwealth.

He had previously fought for Britain in Africa.

Having survived both wars he returned to New Jersey but died of pneumonia in 1930 during the Great Depression.

Due to poor finances no grave stone was placed at his burial site in Trenton, NJ.

Troubled by this, grandson Patrick Walsh contacted the Canadian government after hearing about the ‘Last Post Fund’ unmarked graves programme, which would provide a grave marker for all veterans.

The government agreed to fund a grave stone for the family and it was unveiled at a special ceremony.

Patrick Walsh said: “Everything went very well.

“My grandfather's memorial stone was placed and we gathered with his descendants — grandchildren, great grandchildren, one great-great grandson, my first and second cousins, and some of their children.

“Many family had not left the general Trenton, New Jersey area over the last 87 years.

“The marker is a modest flat stone and like other military markers that were nearby in the graveyard, but I think Grandpop George would appreciate it and so will his descendants gathering to remember him.”

During the ceremony, British, Canadian, and USA flags were hung overhead, while a selection of First World War era music such as ‘Rule, Britannia’ and ‘Over There’.

George William Walsh left England in approximately 1912.

He worked as a machinist for a year, then sent for his wife and three children in 1913, the family settling in Trenton.

Patrick Walsh’s father, Harry, was born in the city in 1915.

At the outbreak of the First World War, King George V asked for loyal subjects to come back and fight the Kaiser.

Patrick Walsh added: “In the factory, where my grandfather worked, there were a lot of other Brits.

“According to the story I know, he and two other mates made the trip to Canada and enlisted in the Army.

“Personally, besides being loyal, I believe he was homesick.”