THE fund to replace a crumbling memorial to a Heybridge soldier is within a few pounds of its target.

The Queen's Royal Hussars want £1,400 for a new tablet marking the original grave site within Trinity College, Dublin, of Private Arthur Charles Smith, who died on April 29, 1916, fighting rebels during the city's Easter Rising.

Glyn Davies, spokesman for the Hussars Association, said £1,170 was in the kitty with more donations arriving almost daily.

But sadly, no Heybridge or Maldon relatives of the brave soldier have yet come forward to play a role in his commemoration.

Once the replacement stone has been carved it will be set in the college wall to replace the badly weathered original stone above the spot where Private Smith was originally buried before reinterment in Dublin's Grangegorman Military Cemetary.

"We have requested a guard of honour from Oglaigh na hEireann, the Irish Army, for the rededication of the memorial and a hint has been dropped to the regiment about the use of a regimental trumpeter for sounding the cavalry last post," explained Mr Davies.

However, Irish sensibilities must be taken into account, he said.

"We anticipate a small service of remembrance at the site of the memorial. We know some hussars wish to attend - but we need to liaise with Trinity College and the British Embassy to ensure we do nothing which might offend the Irish State. After all, our man died while fighting their forces in what is now their country.

"Private Smith's origins have been confirmed by the 1916 Easter Rebellion Handbook, which gave us the home town of Hexbridge. We followed that up on genealogy sites and got Private AC Smith, 4th Hussars, born in Maldon, resided in Heybridge and enlisted in Colchester. I myself found his medal index card and death lines."

Meanwhile, Maldon historian Dr Paddy Lacey has confirmed the existence of a tree on Colchester's Avenue of Remembrance with a plaque to AC Smith, although he does not appear to be commemorated on any other Essex war memorial.

"We have no photographs of him yet, nor any familial information," said Mr Davies.

l Are you related to Private Arthur Charles Smith?

Do you have a photograph of him?

Would you like to attend the commemoration in Dublin?

Call the Standard newsroom on 01245 352254, or e-mail gill.mariner@nqe.com if you can help.