A British woman living in Belgium took to Facebook to find information on a World War One serviceman after tending to his grave for many years.

Joyce Mackenzie, 69, was overwhelmed by the attention the post received, and said: “The people have been amazing, and with the information I have received in private, online and in the photos, I’m just gobsmacked.”

She stumbled upon the graveyard in Vogenée, Belgium, near her home, where the grave for Reginald Dodds was left untidy and neglected, leading her to decide to tidy it herself.

“Nobody asked me to do it, I just did it because it was a downright disgrace,” she said.

The post on the Sheffield Community group filled with details on Mr Dodds from excerpts from his obituary published in the formerly named ‘Sheffield Daily Telegraph’, to family gravestone inscriptions, as well as people praising Mrs Mackenzie for her kindness.

Reginald was a Sergeant Observer for the RFC and RAF, and died at 19-years-old on 10 November 1918, just one day before the armistice that ended the war was signed.

He was the son of William Harvey and Bertha E Dodds and lived on Abbeydale Road, Sheffield.

Locals in Vogenée organised a centenary commemoration service in 2018 to mark 100 years since Mr Dodds died, and that day Mrs Mackenzie received a diploma to thank her for her efforts of remembrance.

She said: “It was such a long time ago, but it’s just a young guy from Sheffield who went off to war and didn’t come back, and now he’s all here alone in the middle of nowhere in Belgium, but he’s not forgotten.”

Last year, she battled a serious case of pneumonia which motivated her to reach out on social media.

“I was so badly ill last year, I really thought I was going, so I thought it really is time, it’s now or never,” she said.

Information on those who died in service can be found on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) website, to commemorate their contributions.

Megan Maltby, head of public engagement at the CWGC, said: “Every grave we care for matters, and each represents and individual story of service and sacrifice that deserves to be remembered.

“It is lovely to hear that Joyce is remembering this fallen serviceman, Reginald Dodds, in her community.”

Although Mrs Mackenzie is yet to discover any relatives of Mr Dodds, she remains hopeful that people might manage to find new information.

To see Joyce’s Facebook post and share any information click here.