THE NEPHEW of a First World War soldier will lay a wreath in a French wood where the veteran was killed in action 100 years ago.

Private Frederick Percy Clark fought with the Royal Berkshire Regiment in the front line south of Saint Quentin, near the small town of Moÿ-de-l’Aisne.

On the morning of March 21, 1918, German forces launched a horrific attack which saw the Royal Berkshire overrun and many soldiers including Private Clark, were killed or captured.

His nephew, Roy Bailey is set to travel to France this year to lay a wreath for his fallen uncle exactly 100 years after his death.

Mr Bailey said: “He was probably stationed in a forward position in a wood called Bois Fremont but known to the British as Magpie Wood and this is where the ceremony will take place, by kind permission of the Mayor of the Commune of Moy-de-l’Aisne.

“As well as the laying of the wreath, the ceremony will consist of short addresses by both the mayor and myself; the playing of The Last Post; a minute’s silence; and the playing of Reveille.”

Private Clark was born in Horton and joined the Berkshire Yeomanry in 1915 before being drafted into the 2nd Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment.

He was wounded in battle in 1916 and joined the regiment’s 8th battalion after he recovered.

Private Clark was 24 years old and unmarried when he was killed and has no known grave, although he is commemorated at the cemetery at Pozieres; on the Horton war memorial; on a column in Colnbrook church and on the Trooper Potts memorial statue in Reading.

Mr Bailey – a retired BBC film and TV cameraman – is now 81. He served in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry himself as a young man.

He said: “I remember my mother telling me my uncle had been killed in the First World War but I did not start researching him properly until 15 years ago.

“There is going to be a lot of interest in the First World War this year.”

Mr Bailey said that future wars will be fought with computers.