AN appeal has been made for information about a Ludlow serviceman who was killed in action in October 1944.

John Dircks, a retired salesman, aged 66, formerly living in Venray in Holland is trying to get a photograph of the soldier from Ludlow.

Mr Dirks became a member of the Foundation Adoption Graves of the CWGC Venray War and has adopted the grave of a soldier who died on October 22, 1944 and is buried in the Venray War Cemetery.

The soldier was Private George Leonard Price, aged 25, whose service number was 4105468. He served in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry/ 1st Battalion Hereford Regiment.

Private Price was born in Ludlow in late 1919, the son of John Thomas Price and Henrietta (nee Corbett) who had five other children, John H, Irene E, Dorothy E, Ernest J and Margaret C, all of whom were born in Ludlow.

Private Price married Doris Corbett, of 8 Hurstead Road, Milnrow at St James Church, Milnrow on October 30, 1943. At the time he died Doris was pregnant of a daughter Georgina who never has known her father.

Through the help of several people, Mr Dircks came in contact with his great grandson Scott Statters.

He also contacted the King’s Shropshire Museum in Sulva and the curator was able to provide some other information but could not find a photograph of Private Price and he hopes that someone in Ludlow can help.

“We want to give this soldier a face as we did for his comrades, many of them from the Shropshire area, who were part of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry liberating the Netherlands and involved in a big, forgotten tank battle ‘The battle of Overloon’ and Venray.

“I am searching for family or relatives of Private Price,” said Mr Dircks, who hopes that a photograph can be found that can be attached to the grave.

“They changed history and made it possible that we live in a democratic society in England and Europe.”