Remains from 1914 battle found in France

LILLE, France, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- A French official said the remains of 15 British soldiers killed during a 1914 battle with German soldiers were found near Beaucamps-Ligny, France.

Frederic Motte, mayor of the surrounding district, said the remains were identified as those of troops from Britain's York and Lancaster Regiment who died during a gun battle sometime between Oct. 18 and Oct. 20, 1914, Radio France Internationale reported Monday.

Motte said the remains were found near the castle of Flandres de Beaucamps-Ligny last Wednesday as workers were clearing an area for a new sewage treatment plant.

"We alerted the police and the prosecutor's office, then digging a little further we came upon military gear, such as bullets and bandoliers," the district mayor said.

"We could see they were British soldiers by their buttons, which had the initials of their regiment," he added.

Radio France Internationale said the bodies were transferred to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which attempts to identify remains and maintains cemeteries in former battlefields in northeastern France.