THE body of a brave Cornish soldier killed during one of the fiercest battles of the Second World War was re-interred in Holland with full military honours.

Private Lewis Curtis, a teenager from Liskeard, whose name is listed on the town's war memorial in Castle Park, was killed in action on October 2, 1944, during a German artillery barrage against an Allied push called Operation Market Garden.

The remains of the 19-year-old, a member of 5th Battalion, The Wiltshire Regiment, were found nine years ago in a shallow field grave, and after a lengthy process were finally identified using British Army dental records.

After a quest to find the soldier's relatives, his nephew Robert Cole and niece Susan Wilbourne, the children of his late sister Alice, were traced in August 2011.

Robert and Susan, who still live in Liskeard, were present at the graveside as the remains of their uncle were finally laid to rest at Arnhem-Oosterbeek War Cemetery. Members of the 5th Battalion The Rifles formed a guard of honour.

Private Curtis's great-nephew Rifleman Richard Edwards, who had just returned from Afghanistan, attended the burial.

'Mum was always talking about Lewis,' said Susan.

'So it's unbelievable to be here now to finally lay him to rest after so long of not knowing.

'It's been quite an emotional rollercoaster since we found out. It is just such a pity that Mum couldn't be here to bury her little brother.'

The soldier was buried with one of the few keepsakes Alice had kept of her brother, which was a treasured glass marble. 'It feels right to return it to him,' said Robert.

Private Curtis was killed by a German artillery barrage during a battle for a level crossing in the town where his remains were retrieved by a Dutch Army Recovery Team in 2003.

After landing in Normandy, he took part in several major battles.

Private Curtis had been buried where he fell at De Laar Farm near Arnhem.

The grave was found by housebuilders excavating the old Dutch battlefield.