A CRUMBLING memorial to a Heybridge soldier who died fighting in Ireland has been replaced and rededicated.

Members of the Queen's Royal Hussars Association travelled to Trinity College, Dublin to rededicate a memorial to Private Arthur Charles Smith, who died fighting rebels during the Easter Rising of 1916.

A new memorial paid for by £1,400 worth of donations has now been put in to replace the old stone, which was barely legible after 91 years.

A new plaque was set into the college wall above the site where Pte Smith was buried, and a service was given by college chaplains Father Paddy Gleeson and Reverend Darren McCallig.

Glyn Davies, spokesman for the Hussars Association, took part in the trip, and said: "I think I'd be speaking for all of the members of the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars and Queen's Royal Hussars Association by saying that we feel we made history on the day.

"Ten years ago our trip, and very likely our project, would not have been welcome in the Irish Republic. Thanks to the peace now achieved in Northern Ireland we were able to remember our fallen comrade, Private Arthur Charles Smith.

"We have also forged new links between Trinity College Dublin and our association.

"Furthermore, friendships were formed with many ex-members of the Irish Army and we expect these to continue with mutual invitations to each others Old Comrades Functions in the months and years ahead.

"Our only regret is that we were unable to trace any surviving relatives of Pte Smith."

The original stone plaque has now been transferred to the National Museum of Ireland.

Pte Smith lived in Heybridge but was born in Maldon, was a member of the 4th Hussars and was enlisted at Colchester. A tree is dedicated to him on Colchester's Avenue of Remembrance.