A BRANCH of the Royal British Legion is appealing for help to find the family of a soldier who died in the Second World War ahead of a service to mark its 75th anniversary.

The Newcastle West branch is planning to lay up its standard, which was bought in memory of Surgeon Lieutenant William Robert Barkas Dickinson, who died on March 11, 1943.

The son of Robert Lumley Dickinson and Jane Howard Dickinson was 27 when he died on board HMS Harvester.

Members of the branch have so far been unable to find any family members and believe he may have relatives living in County Durham.

They would like to invite them to a special service on Sunday, October 15, when the old standard will be laid up and a new one dedicated.

The service takes place at St Andrew's Church in Newgate Street, Newcastle and starts at 11am.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the family is asked to contact branch secretary Debbie Owens by emailing debowens1@blueyonder.co.uk or by calling chairman Lawrence Hunter on 07706939999.

The branch meets on the third Sunday of the month at 11.30am at Benwell Hill Cricket Club.