A FORMERLY unknown Scottish soldier who lost his life in Italy during the Second World War has been identified as hailing from Dollar.

Private George Alister Walker Ewan was a member of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, serving in Tuscany in June 1944.

He was wounded in action in the Vaiano area of Italy on or soon after June 21, 1944, going on to be buried by the German army or by local civilians.

Initially buried without a name attached to the grave, Ewan would be marked down as an unknown soldier.

Now, work has been done to identify his body and rededicate his final resting place more than 80 years after his death.

Alexia Clar, a caseworker with the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), said: “I am grateful to the researcher who submitted this case.

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“Their work has led us to recognise the final resting place of Private Ewan, to restore his name to him and to allow his family to honour his sacrifice.

“It has been a privilege for me to have contributed to this case and to have organised the service for the rededication of Private Ewan’s grave today.”

Private Ewan was buried at the civilian cemetery at Castiglione del Largo, listed in the records as an unknown British soldier.

His remains were recovered after the war, with historians finding his cap badge to confirm that he had been a member of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

An independent researcher submitted evidence to the Commonwealth War Graves Commision (CWGC), which allowed the National Army Museum and the JCCC to identify where he was buried.

This research concluded that Private Ewan was born in Canada to Scottish parents in 1915, moving to Dollar in 1916.

He joined the army in June 1940 and spent two years on home defence duties before fighting in North Africa and then in Italy.

Geert Bekaert, director for central and southern Europe at CWGC, added: “We are grateful to everyone involved in identifying the grave of this brave soldier, who died 80 years ago.

“It is our duty – and privilege – to care for the grave of Private Ewan, in perpetuity.”

In memory, the newly identified grave has now been rededicated with military honours on Wednesday, October 16.

This service was attended by Private Ewan’s cousins, held in the CWGC Bolsena War Cemetery in Italy.