A SOUTH Lakes man joined royalty and heads of state at a centenary commemoration of one of World War One's most devastating battles.

Mike Wilson travel to France to attend a ceremony marking the hundredth anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge.

And he has the Canadian government to thank for getting him a pass to attend the event.

The notorious battle at Arras claimed the life of thousands of troops, including Mr Wilson's great-uncle Roger Wilson, who fought and died alongside comrades in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force.

Private Wilson, who had emigrated to Canada before war broke out, enlisted in the 89th Infantry (Galgary) Battalion when he was just 19.

He had been born at Ravenslodge in the Lyth Valley and later moved to Longsleddale before emigrating in the spring of 1914.

Inspired by the World War One centenary, Private Wilson's great-nephew, aided by daughter Danielle, researched the soldier's personal story and the circumstances of his death at Vimy Ridge.

"To me, attending the centenary commemorations is the finale to all the research Danielle and I did," said Mr Wilson, from Milnthorpe. "I feel I must go to pay my respects to a family member who gave up his life for King and Country at such a tender age - 21 - and I feel a duty to keep his memory alive.

"I have been looking forward to this trip for a long time.

"Because of the security issues in France I had to apply to the Canadian government for a security pass to attend. Members of the royal family plus heads of state of the UK, France, Canada plus possibly Germany will be there, so hence the security."

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle, which took place from April 9 to April 12, 1917, was part of the opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras, a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive.

The objective of the Canadian Corps was to take control of the German-held high ground along an escarpment at the northernmost end of the Arras Offensive.

A report on Private Wilson's death in The Westmorland Gazette of April 28, 1917, quoted a letter to his parents from his platoon commander:

"During our attack on the 9th about 9.20am, Roger was advancing with his gun crew under very heavy shell fire. A shell made a direct hit on gun and crew, killing Roger outright, wounding two others, and smashing the gun. Your boy suffered no pain whatever.

"He was a splendid type of young soldier; always cheerful and attentive to his duties and a favourite with all his comrades."

Private Wilson died just three days after his 21st birthday and his buried at Ecoivres Military Cemetery near Arras.