Battersea-born First World War soldier identified after 103 years missing in action

A lieutenant who won British War and Victory medals during his service has been identified after nearly 104 years since he went missing.

Second Lieutenant Henry George Pike was given a rededication ceremony on June 29 after it was finally confirmed that he was buried as an “unknown” solider in a plot near Ypres, Belgium.

Lt Pike was born on May 29, 1895 in East Battersea,  and on August 30, 1918 while flying a Sopwith Camel D9482, he didn’t return to the aerodrome and was presumed missing ever since.

The Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (MOD JCCC), also known as the MOD War Detectives, were helped by a man in Ypres who has a hobby of identifying unknown soldiers that died in the war, in the area.

The “unknown” graves are marked with some information to help identify those buried underneath. Lt Pike had insignia on him when he was buried and this was detailed on his headstone.

The fact that Lt Pike had served in military, the Royal Flying Corps and the RAF made him identifiable as there were few who had done that.

Lt Pike was one of five children, he had two brothers and two sisters and was born to Henry George and Louisa. His father was a carpenter and they lived in Trinity Road in Wandsworth.

After he finished school, Lt Pike was employed as a motor mechanic for three years until April 1916 when he enlisted into the Seaforth Highlanders, an infantry regiment of the British Army.

During his time in the infantry, he became a Lewis Gun instructor indicating he was an experienced solider in a front-line position. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals during his infantry service.

In 1917, he applied for a commission in The Royal Flying Corps, described on his record of service as being 5ft 9ins tall and having perfect vision; his appointment as a Second Lieutenant was published in the London Gazette in August 1918 into the newly-formed RAF.

Lt Pike’s great-great niece, Helen Towler, attended the rededication at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) cemetery in Ypres.

She said: “It was a really moving service and I am really privileged and proud to have been asked to attend and represent the family.

“I am really glad that the JCCC, the CWGC and the wider MOD community still remember our fallen from the Great War and it is really reassuring to know that if anything ever happened to our soldiers of today, they would never be forgotten.”

There are around half a million people still missing from the first and second world war

Tracey Bowers, from the JCCC, said: “To pilot a plane during the Great War over the Western Front took a great deal of skill, bravery and courage.

“Second Lieutenant Pike was a committed, experienced soldier who paid the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy freedom today.”

Pictured top: Helen Towler, great great of niece of 2nd Lt Pike lays a wreath (Picture: A.Eden/Crown Copyright)