A proud St David’s Islander has made a poignant visit to the war memorials that commemorate the sacrifice of two fellow East Enders in the First World War.

Ronnie Chameau was on holiday in France with her husband, Michel, when the Somme Centenary took place on July 1.

The anniversary events spurred her to begin a search for Private Eldon Pitcher, who died during the Battle of the Somme, and Private Albert Lamb, both of whom hailed from St David’s.

She spent a day scouring headstones and monuments in Vimy and Vermelles to track down the Bermudian soldiers.

Mrs Chameau, trustee of the St David’s Islands Historical Society, first visited the Vimy Memorial where Private Lamb’s name appears alongside scores of others.

She then searched four military graveyards in Vermelles before finding the name of Private Pitcher on a memorial.

Neither of the Bermudian soldiers were assigned their own graves because their bodies were never recovered from the battlefield.

“It was an incredible experience for me,” Mrs Chameau said. “I think I may be the first St David’s Islander to have made the trip to the final resting places of these two brave soldiers from St David’s.

“When I found Private Pitcher’s name I started shouting out ‘I have found him, I have found him’. It was quite an emotional moment.

“I was so incredibly impressed by the condition of the memorials and graveyards in France. They were immaculately kept.

“I wish that we in Bermuda gave the same thought and consideration to our military memorials and graveyards.”

Private Pitcher was just 17 years old when he died during the Battle of the Somme on February 26, 1917.

The Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps soldier served with the Lincolnshire Regiment and was killed by a grenade that was thrown into the shelter where he stood.

Private Lamb, who served with the Canadian 38th Ottawa Battalion, died on October 29, 1916 at the age of 36.

“Lamb and Pitcher are renowned St David’s Islander names,” Mrs Chameau said. “There are certainly still relatives of these two men that live in St David’s today.

“This was really a spur of the moment decision to go looking for their memorials, but I am so glad that I did it.

“I now plan to put up a display in Carter House to Privates Lamb and Pitcher as a tribute to them.”