An OAP has taken it upon himself to clean the graves of forgotten war dead.

In the last few months, Ron Henshall has cleared weeds and rubbish and scrubbed clean the headstones of two soldiers at the cemetery in Bell Road, Sittingbourne.

They include L/Cpr F. Martin MM, late Royal Engineers, who died February 26, 1936, and Ernley Charles Bennett of the 2nd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment.

But the 75-year-old’s work isn’t done yet. Next on his list is a piece of masonry which bears the inscription “In Loving Memory of William George (Billy) 7th Rifle Brigade”.

It is understood he was killed as he tried to shield his comrades while under fire during the First World War.

Mr Henshall, of Whitehall Road, Sittingbourne, a former rescue fireman for the Royal Air Force, said: “I take my dog for a walk up there every day and I look at the different stones.

"I often think what a shame when I look at some of them and the state they’re in because they’ve been forgotten about.

“I’m purposely targeting soldiers’ graves at the moment because this month marked the centenary of the First World War.

“They fought for us and some of these people didn’t go into service voluntarily, they were put in their posts and paid the highest price possible by losing their lives so we can live the way we do today.

“Lance Corporal Martin’s gravestone says it is maintained by public subscription but it’s not because I’ve cleaned it up. I’d like to know why it’s not being looked after.”

A Swale council spokesman said: “Frederick Martin was buried in February 1936 into a common grave.

“In August 1936 the grave was then purchased by the Treasurer of the Public Subscription Committee at Martin’s Bank.

“We believe the MM stands for military medal so there may be someone out there who can find out why he was awarded it and more detail about this soldier.

“The memorial stone states that it was erected and maintained by public subscription but this was from the bank and not the council.

“The agreement for this possibly ceased with the closure of the bank. There is no responsibility for Swale to maintain this grave. The council would only step in if the memorial became unsafe.”

The Royal Engineers’ Museum in Brompton, Gillingham, has four former servicemen in its records called F. Martin who won the MM. Without the relevant Army number, it would be difficult to determine which one the Sittingbourne man is.