DESCENDANTS of a Victorian war hero from the North-East yesterday saw his vandalised headstone put back in place.

Among them were Phillip and Tracey Rollo, who discovered years after they had been married that they were descended from the same person - Corporal Alexander Rollo.

Corporal Rollo, of Tynemouth, braved heavy enemy fire by holding a lantern in the depths of the night so his colleagues could see to bury their fallen commander.

The couple wrote to Ray Stockdale, English Heritage's works manager, after they found his headstone in the grounds of Tynemouth Priory broken in half by vandals.

Mr Stockdale said: "I was delighted to be able to write back and say the corporal's headstone - considered to be one of the most important in the 1,000-year-old cemetery - was among around 40 gravestones and table monuments about to undergo repairs."

Cpl Rollo, of the Royal Artillery, who served during the Peninsular campaign, won his place in history in 1809 following the burial of Sir John Moore, who was the commander of the British troops in Portugal at the time.

The burial of Sir John, who was killed by the French, had to take place in darkness to avoid enemy fire and Cpl Rollo put his life at risk while holding the lantern as the grave was being dug.

Cpl Rollo lived to the age of 82, and even spent a time as a tour guide at Tynemouth Priory and Castle.

Mrs Rollo, said: "I was researching both my husband's and my own family tree when I discovered we were both directly descended from Corporal Rollo. It was amazing."

The couple have two children, William, 13, and Emma Elizabeth, 15.

Also present at the reinstatement was Alexander Rollo, 65, a great-great-great grandson of Cpl Rollo.