THE tragic tale of an East Lancashire soldier, whose body lay undiscovered for 92 years, is the focus of a poignant World War One centenary exhibition.

Private Richard Lancaster, of Napier Street, Burnley, lost his life at the age of 31 on the battlefields at Ypres, on November 10, 1914, while serving with the Lancashire Fusiliers.

But it took until 2006 before the remains of the trooper, who also had family connections with Clayton-le-Moors and Nelson, were located.

A full military funeral followed around 12 months later.

Curators at The Fusilier Museum in Bury have now made Pte Lancaster’s plight, and the fate of another soldier, the subject of a new display, entitled No Known Grave - Missing In Action.

His granddaughters Doreen Grimshaw and Myra Webster received invitations to the exhibition and saw a number of effects found alongside Pte Lancaster's body, including his identity tag, scabbard, ammunition, toothbrush, razor, fork and spoon.

Another former Fusilier, Pte Harry Wilkinson, whose body was found in 2000, is also featured. The ex-firefighter left behind a pregnant wife and son.

An insight is also given into the painstaking process behind identifying possible sites for the soldiers’ last resting places, and the recovery work carried out in Belgium.

Collections officer Sarah Stevenson said: “We wanted to create an exhibition that told a very personal story of soldiers of World War One, highlighting the sacrifices that so many local men made.

“We hope this exhibition will detail the life, the loss and the discovery of Lancashire Fusiliers who fought.”

Other members of the Burnley soldier’s family, following the discovery of his body in 2006, recalled visiting Towneley Hall to see his name on the borough’s roll of honour.