A FAMILY with roots in Winchester has discovered more about how their uncle came to die during World War Two after reading his name in the Hampshire Chronicle.

Brother and sister Geoff Bentley and Janet Hilliam found an online story which referred to their uncle Leonard Burgess, from Sutton Scotney, which led them to meet the man he saved while fighting in Italy.

They read about Reg Argyle’s 90th birthday on the Chronicle website – only to discover Mr Argyle paying tribute to his “best pal” Mr Burgess.

Now the families have been united and spent several hours sharing stories about Mr Burgess, known as Len, at lunch at the Swan Hotel, Alton.

Mr Argyle regaled Mr Bentley, Mrs Hilliam and her husband Mel, with wartime stories about Len and shed some light on a long-standing family secret.

Hampshire Chronicle:

On September 14 1944, Hampshire soldiers made an assault on Monte Scuto which was defended by the German Mountain Regiment.

They put up desperate resistance, causing Hampshire to lose 1,276 casualties in just a few days, during which there was a mortar attack.

Mr Argyle threw himself into a shell hole before realising that Mr Burgess had jumped in after him and taken the full impact of the exploding mortar.

He died in hospital a few days later.

Hampshire Chronicle:

Leonard Burgess as a teenager

“We knew nothing about the circumstances of Leonard’s death,” said Mr Bentley, of Black Notley in Chelmsford. “We knew nothing about Reg and it’s only because the article mentioned Leonard and said he inadvertently saved his life; it was the first we’d heard about any of it.

“We got the letter from the war office saying he died of wounds, but my Nan and Grandad never talked about Leonard,” he added. “My mum did; she thought the world of him.

“They wrote to each other when he was away. We actually took her to Gradara, to his grave in Italy, when she was 70.”

Mr Burgess was the eldest of nine children, who grew up at the family home in Wonston Close.

He was paid a special tribute by Mr Argyle at a ceremony held at Serle’s House in Southgate Street when 10,000 crosses were laid for Hampshire men lost at war.

Mr Argyle said: “Sunday went quite well; I was amazed truly. They gave me photos of Len, including a school photo, which brought back memories!”

Mr Bentley added: “Reg is a gentleman; he couldn’t have been nicer and he kept thanking us for going to see him. He’s got photos of Leonard’s grave on his mantelpiece so he obviously thinks the world of him.”

Hampshire Chronicle:

Clockwise from top-left: Mel Hilliam, David and Maggie Argyle, Geoff Bentley, Reg Argyle and Janet Hilliam at the Swan in Alton