A PLAQUE to commemorate a young soldier from Bolton and another from Bury who died during a daring offensive on an enemy post more than 60 years ago is to be unveiled in Holland.

Pte Thomas Hambleton, from Horwich, and Pte Frank Woods, from Bury, died along with two others when they launched an attack on a German observation post under the cover of darkness in the Dutch town of Buggenum in November 1944.

A plaque will be unveiled in the town later this month bearing the names of the four and four other soldiers who were killed during ferocious fighting between the 5th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment and German troops during a two-week stalemate as Allied forces tried to cross the River Maas.

But former comrades fear the day will be tainted with sadness because they have not been able to trace the families of Pte Hambleton or Pte Woods to invite them to the ceremony.

Eric Spencer, who led the unit as a 22-year-old lieutenant, said: "We're very proud that we are finally going to get a plaque to remember Mr Hambleton and the others who died.

"At the moment I know very little about either of these two gentlemen and we would be very keen for their families to get in touch.

"It will be a very special day when we travel to Holland but I would be very sad to think that other families didn't have the opportunity to attend."

Army records reveal only that Pte Hambleton hailed from Horwich and had signed up for service around eight months before his death.

Mr Spencer said he believed Pte Hambleton was around 19-years-old when he died but did not know the age of Pte Woods.

Pte Hambleton died in a barrage of machine gun fire as he and other soldiers launched a late night attack to capture a post protecting the river.

The post was eventually captured nine days later by a team including Mr Spencer.

Mr Spencer, aged 83, said: "The unit had been thrown together from people who came from all over the country.

"It was a case of using whoever was available so we had a few Welshmen and the rest of us were from all over.

"I had only been with the unit for about a month but they were all very brave men and this was a perilous place to be.

"It's a honour to have served with people like Mr Hambleton and it will be a very proud day when I unveil the plaque."

The plaque will be unveiled on April 28. Anyone who knew Pte Hambleton or Pte Wood can contact Mr Spencer on 01624 812748 or by post at Bay House, 15 Queens Valley, Ramsey, Isle of Man, IM8 1NG.