A WOMAN whose great uncle could be one of many men found in mass graves in France is searching for a long-lost relative to help solve the mystery.Herbert Bird, pictured, who lived in Ditchingham, near Bungay, died in the first world war aged 30 having been a sergeant in the 2nd/6th battalion.

A WOMAN whose great uncle could be one of many men found in mass graves in France is searching for a long-lost relative to help solve the mystery.

Herbert Bird, pictured, who lived in Ditchingham, near Bungay, died in the first world war aged 30 having been a sergeant in the 2nd/6th battalion.

Believing they would never find out what happened to him, his family gradually accepted they would never see him again, until information surfaced suggesting he may be one of the soldiers lying in a mass grave, near the tiny village of Fromelles.

Now his great niece Christine Bird is tracing the family tree and believes that a man, who may still live in Beccles, could hold the key.

She said Herbert had five sisters, none of whom had children, but a name she has come up with on his mother's side is David Norman, who it is believed was an only child, was born in 1945 and whose birth was registered in Wainford.

His mother was Clara Eileen Gipson, born in Beccles in 1913 and died in 1999, and his father was Arthur E Norman.

Anyone with information is asked to call Archant on 01502 715674.