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| War hero's grave saved after plea | War hero's grave saved after plea |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Spanish grave of a British World War I hero has been saved after an appeal to trace his relatives. | The Spanish grave of a British World War I hero has been saved after an appeal to trace his relatives. |
| Authorities were threatening to exhume the body of Sir Gilbert Mackereth, who is buried in a San Sebastian cemetery, because of unpaid taxes on the plot. | Authorities were threatening to exhume the body of Sir Gilbert Mackereth, who is buried in a San Sebastian cemetery, because of unpaid taxes on the plot. |
| Terry Dean, of the Western Front Association, spoke about the Salford-born soldier to the BBC on Thursday and had traced his cousin by that evening. | Terry Dean, of the Western Front Association, spoke about the Salford-born soldier to the BBC on Thursday and had traced his cousin by that evening. |
| A national newspaper has paid the 330 euro (£287) tax owed on the plot. | A national newspaper has paid the 330 euro (£287) tax owed on the plot. |
| Sir Gilbert, who commanded the 17th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, was awarded the Military Cross for his outstanding bravery during WWI. | Sir Gilbert, who commanded the 17th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, was awarded the Military Cross for his outstanding bravery during WWI. |
| In April 1917 he crawled into no man's land in Saint Quentin in France to rescue a group of soldiers who were lost and in danger. He took control and saved them all. | In April 1917 he crawled into no man's land in Saint Quentin in France to rescue a group of soldiers who were lost and in danger. He took control and saved them all. |
| The important thing is that Sir Gilbert's remains will now be reverently cared for Terry Dean, amateur historian | The important thing is that Sir Gilbert's remains will now be reverently cared for Terry Dean, amateur historian |
| Sir Gilbert's wife died in 1979, 17 years after her husband. They did not have children. The couple had lived in Spain. | Sir Gilbert's wife died in 1979, 17 years after her husband. They did not have children. The couple had lived in Spain. |
| Mr Dean, who launched the search after being notified of the tax problem, said tracing a relative so soon was "beyond his expectations". | Mr Dean, who launched the search after being notified of the tax problem, said tracing a relative so soon was "beyond his expectations". |
| "On Thursday night I spoke on the phone to his first cousin John Sloane," he said. | "On Thursday night I spoke on the phone to his first cousin John Sloane," he said. |
| Mr Sloane, who had no idea about the grave issue, accepted an offer from The Sun newspaper to get the tax paid. | Mr Sloane, who had no idea about the grave issue, accepted an offer from The Sun newspaper to get the tax paid. |
| "For the past three years I've been searching for a picture of Gilbert Mackereth in uniform and never in my wildest imagination did I expect to see the first photograph of him in The Sun," Mr Dean added. | "For the past three years I've been searching for a picture of Gilbert Mackereth in uniform and never in my wildest imagination did I expect to see the first photograph of him in The Sun," Mr Dean added. |
| "The important thing is that Sir Gilbert's remains will now be reverently cared for - that's the important thing." | "The important thing is that Sir Gilbert's remains will now be reverently cared for - that's the important thing." |
| Mr Dean, who laid a poppy and a note on Sir Gilbert's grave last summer, was alerted to the eviction notice by a local resident. | Mr Dean, who laid a poppy and a note on Sir Gilbert's grave last summer, was alerted to the eviction notice by a local resident. |
| He now hopes a memorial to Sir Gilbert can be established at The Fusilier Museum in Bury, Greater Manchester. |