Appeal to trace family of fallen World War Two hero

Lancashire Fusiliers in action in Italy. Credit: Ministry of Defence.

An appeal's been launched to trace the family of a Lancashire Fusilier who died in Italy during World War Two.

The soldier fell during the battle of Monte Spaduro in October 1944.

The MOD's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) believes he was either Fusilier Walter Vickers or Fusilier Joseph Frank Faulkner.

DNA samples have been taken from the remains and JCCC want to try and confirm his identity by comparing this sample with a member of each of the families of the two fallen soldiers.

  • Fusilier Joseph Frank Faulkner was the son of Joseph Faulkner and Mary Isabel Plant. He was born in October 1921 in Dartington, Cheshire. His last known address was Worthington Avenue, Partington in Trafford. Joseph had 5 brothers: Kenneth, George, Cyril, Harry and Jack and 1 sister, Mary. Initial family research suggests that some of the descendants from these siblings could still be living in the Manchester area.

  • Fusilier Walter Vickers was the son of Walter Vickers and Maggie Straker. He was born in April 1921 in Rusholme, Manchester. His last known address was listed as Boynton Road, Rusholme. We believe from our initial research that Walter had 3 brothers and 3 sisters: Bernard, James, Geoffrey, Nita, Lorna and Elva. Once again, the JCCC believe that the descendants of these siblings could still be living in the Manchester area.

Both soldiers served with the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers and were killed during the Allied Gothic Line Offensive in Italy on 23 October 1944, during the battle to capture Monte Spaduro.