A PRESTIGIOUS new headstone has been created to commemorate the death of a Keighley soldier during the First World War.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has just finished carving the stone to honour Ivor Tempest Greenwood.

Men of Worth Project volunteers in Keighley are now renewing their efforts to find descendants of Private Greenwood to join them for a special service in 2017.

Research by the military history group into Private Greenwood’s cause of death persuaded the Commission to add his name to its Perpetual Roll of Honour, the official list of First World War casualties.

Men of Worth spokesman Andy Wade said: “Ivor Tempest Greenwood's headstone has now arrived in the UK, at some depot down South I think.

“We’re assuming it will be installed in the spring so we would like to be able to get relatives to come forward, if there are any out there.”

The Men of Worth Project plans to hold a special ceremony at Private Greenwood’s grave at Utley Cemetery, once the new headstone has been attached.

The group hosted a similar ceremony last year for Oakworth soldier Private Herbert Moore of Oakworth, after the Commission’s stone was installed on his grave at Oakworth cemetery.

The Men of Worth Project carry out in-depth research into the backgrounds of all Keighley people who died in conflict, including the First and Second World Wars.

They came across several men who, despite being named on local war memorials or in news reports of the time, were never officially recorded as war dead.

According to the Keighley News of September 1914, Private Greenwood died of typhoid fever and pneumonia within three weeks of joining the army.

He had been a member of the All Saints Church Bible class and is named on the Highfield church’s war memorial window.

After carrying out further research, Men of Worth member Ian Walkden submitted Private Greenwood’s name for consideration by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in 2012.

Not only Greenwoods in the Keighley area could be related to Ivor, but also members of the Harper family who were in his mother’s side, and the Brunckner family.

People who think they may be relatives of Private Greenwood should e-mail andy@menofworth.org.uk or call 07792 665336.