A MAN whose great uncle died in battle during the Second World War has thanked air cadets who laid tributes at his grave.

Mike Wells, who lives in Warwickshire, visited Burnley Cemetery to commemorate the 70th anniversary of RAF leading aircraftman (LAC) Henry Green’s death.

Henry - known as Harry - was just 19 when he was killed after his hotel came under fire from German planes.

Last November, police cadets and Air Training Corp members cleared a dozen war graves at the cemetery which had been vandalised.

They left plants at LAC Green’s grave as part of last year’s Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Wells, of Farm Close, Shipston-on-Stour, said: “I was really touched by the fact that the police cadets and air cadets had left plants as a token of remembrance last year as part of the Jubilee.

“On the way home it struck me that the cadets are no doubt of a similar age to Harry when served in the RAF. He joined the RAF just after his 16th birthday in October 1939, just five weeks after the outbreak of war."

Harry trained as an apprentice at RAF Cranwell and after completing his course was posted to 502 Squadron at RAF St Eval in Cornwall where he served as ground crew supporting the Whitley bombers that were chasing U-Boats in the Atlantic.

In early 1943, aged 19, he was passed ‘Fit all Aircrew’ and on May 1, 1943, joined Initial Training Wing No 4 in Babbacombe, Devon. In his last letter home Harry wrote: ‘I think I'm going to like it here’.

On May 30, 1943, a dozen Focke-Wulf Fw 190s attacked the hotels being used as billets by the RAF. Harry was one of five RAF personnel killed.

One of the planes was shot down and crashed into a local church where it killed 21 children and three teachers at Sunday school.

Harry, the only son of John William and Louisa Green, of Dall Street, Burnley, was a past pupil of Rosegrove School and Todmorden Road Central School.

He was buried at the cemetery on June 4, 1943.