A German historian and ex-soldier is attempting to track down relatives of a British soldier who died in his home village in Germany.

Charles Alfred Hodges, from Higham, had almost made it to the end of the Second World War, and hostilities had largely ceased when he died in a traffic accident on April 14, 1945 in the small village of Holtorf near Nienburg, 30 miles northwest of Hanover in northern Germany.

More than 70 years later, the life of the 34-year-old Kent soldier has become the focus for historian and Holtorf man Thomas Helbig, a member of the Bergen Hohne Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Mr Helbig has found Charles's grave in the war cemetery at Becklingen, between Hanover and Hamburg, and has gone on to collate information about him from the Royal Military Police Museum, and the West Sussex County Times.

But pieces of the story remain incomplete and Mr Helbig is still hoping to put a face to the man who fell in his village, and pass on his research to relatives.

The 48-year-old historian, who also served in the armoured infantry service for 12 years and now works in facility management for the Bundeswehr [German Army], lives just 100 metres from the spot where Charles died.

"As a result of my active service, I became interested in the history of war in our area," he writes. "For over 25 years I have been researching the battles between the rivers Weser, Aller and Leine in the heart of Lower Saxony between Hanover and Bremen.

"During the research, it was then inevitable that one dealt with the German attackers and the attackers of the 11th Armored Division (Black Bulls) and the 7th Armored Division (Desert Rats).

"The two British divisions took the crossings on the Weser at Stolzenau, Nienburg and Hoya at the beginning of April and then fought on at Rethem and Essel, where the toughest battles between the British since D-Day came up to the Elbe near Lauenburg."

Through his research Mr Helbig came across the British Legion Bergen Hohne, which he joined and subsequently became 'branch historian' for the group, and further research took him to the cemetery at Becklingen".

Investigation of the graves has led him to uncover stories of two Victoria Cross porters, a bodyguard of the royal family, aircraft crews who crashed near Holtorf and a German Jew who fought under the British flag.

But his latest mission is to shed light on the soldiers L/Cpl Hodges and Pte Walkers, who died in a crash in his home village.

At the time of the accident there was no more fighting, and the 108 Propst Company (CMP) had set up a base in the Hotel zur Krone restaurant, then called Gasthaus zur Krone.

"I want to give the graves back their face," added Mr Helbig. "If there are relatives, I would like to contact you.

"Through the research that I do and the support of the Bergen Hohne branch, as well as the contact with other hobby historians, we have succeeded in decorating more and more graves with a wreath or cross on Remembrance Day."

Mr Helbig's research led him to Richard Callaghan, a curator with the the Museum of the Royal Military Police, who said it was gratifying to know that a former Corps members is still remembered so many years on.

Mr Callaghan was able to write to Mr Helbig with information on Charles's life, stating: "He had quite a busy military career. He was born in Sussex in the south of England in 1911 the son of George and Edith Hodges of 26 Stanley Street, Horsham.

"He married Lilian Harriet Moon (born in 1912) who lived in Mid Higham, Kent, in 1938 in the Strood area of Kent.

"He first enlisted into the Royal Artillery on February 4 1931 before being transferred into the Royal Sussex Regiment. In 1937, he was transferred to the Army Reserve, and was recalled to the Colours at the outbreak of War two years later. On January 25 1941 he transferred into the Corps of Military Police (CMP), and at some point was posted to 108 Provost Company in the Traffic Control Wing. It is possible he served in other Companies within CMP. He died as the result of a road traffic accident — probably while on traffic control duty."

He also uncovered an article in the West Sussex County Times newspaper of May 11 1945, which recorded Charles's death.

The newspaper reports: “Killed on the Western Front. Lance Corporal Charles Hodges elder son of Mr and Mrs G Hodges, 26 Stanley Street, Horsham, has been killed in action on the Western Front. L/CpI Hodges who was in the regular Army, serving with the Royal Sussex Regiment from 1930 until he was put on the reserve in 1937.

"Part of his service was spent in India at the time of the Quetta earthquake when he helped in the rescue. At the outbreak of war he was removed from the reserve to the Corps of Military Police with which he was serving when he was killed.

"During the time he was out of the Army he was employed by Messrs. M Kay, Ltd. Horsham. He is survived by his father and mother and his wife and two daughters, the latter who reside at Higham, Kent. His two brothers are in the Army and his brother in law is a prisoner of war."

And Mr Callaghan said the fact the newspaper mentions two daughters was encouraging, adding: "Even at their youngest, they would be in their late 70s today, but hopefully had families of their own, and you may be able to contact them."

Mr Helbig described the deaths of April 1945 as "completely useless bloodshed just before the end of the war", adding: "I try to come to terms with what has happened and to preserve it."

Anyone with information on Charles Hodges and his family should email chunter@thekmgroup.co.uk