AN appeal is being made by a village in Belgium to trace living relatives of a Peeblesshire soldier who was killed during the First World War.

Private Thomas Cockburn was among a group of Black Watch soldiers who died during fighting in the village of Orcq on October 23, 1918.

A total of 16 servicemen are buried in the village cemetery - among them are eight members of the 14th Battalion Fife & Forfar Yeomanry of the Black Watch.

Every year the village, which is near Tournai, remembers the soldiers who died just weeks before the end of hostilities.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary this year villagers are holding a special ceremony and inviting descendants of the soldiers.

Private Thomas Chapman Cockburn, Service Number S/12506, was born in the Berwickshire village of Cockburnspath in 1893.

But as war broke Mr Cockburn had moved to the Eddleston area with his parents and enlisted with many others in Peebles.

The Book of Remembrance for Tweeddale lists Private Cockburn as being the son of Mr and Mrs Cockburn, late of Bloweary, Nether Fala, Eddleston.

In correspondence sent from the front, Private Cockburn's parents were told… 'I have no doubt that you have been notified by the War Office of the death of your son who was killed in action on the evening of Wednesday, October 23.

'He was a brave lad, and on the night of the attack we had all to do our best, and not all of us could expect to come back.

'You can have the glorious satisfaction that your son died a hero for his home and country and for the peace and comfort of the world.

'I am proud to be able to testify to the gallant manner in which your son acted during times of the utmost need of courage and daring to enable us to conquer our enemy.

'Kindly accept of my very deep sympathy, but I hope you will be comforted in the fact that he died a hero for the sake of home and country."

Private Cockburn was killed during a major British attack between Le Gateau and Valenciennes, which carried the line forward one to three miles after stiff resistance.

Villagers in Orcq will hold the centenary memorial service on Saturday, October 20.

The appeal for relatives is being led by volunteer researchers Chris and Sarah Morris from Dover.

They lead a group of 10 local historians who work tirelessly researching fallen soldiers that have been overlooked over the years and can hopefully reconnect them with.

Mr Morris said: "I have never seen such commitment of the people of this small village, they take great honour remembering the fallen 16 in the communal cemetery.

"I have emailed so many people all over the world in connection to these brave men, many have not replied and others are too old, too distantly related or live just too far away to attend."

The team of researchers intend to represent any soldiers who they are unable to trace family members for at the 100th anniversary ceremony.

But there is still time for any relatives to get in touch with the researchers.

The eight soldiers of the Black Watch buried at Orcq are:

Private Thomas Cockburn Enlisted: Peebles

Private Andrew Webb Enlisted: Carluke, Lanarkshire

Private Thomas Waller Enlisted: Motherwell, Lanarkshire

Private Thomas Bartie Enlisted: Cowdenbeath

Corporal Richard Izatt Enlisted: Glasgow

Private Edward Sowerby Enlisted: Blackburn, Lancashire

2nd Lieutenant Frederick Kenneth Cumming Enlisted: Unknown

Private John Barber Enlisted: Whitehall, Middlesex

Over the coming weeks plans for a major commemoration to mark the centenary of the end of World War I will take place with film screenings, lectures, remembrance walks and visual tributes.

A local appeal has also been made for contributions to the people's story of Peeblesshire at the end of the Great War.

Anyone who can contribute to telling the story of Peeblesshire and its people during the Great War is asked to send stories and photographs to remembrance1918@gmail.com