READERS may be able to help pay tribute to a soldier who died during the First World War.

I have just received an appeal from Peter Hutchison on behalf of the Royal British Legion in St Ives, Cambridgshire — not to be confused with the Cornish town of the same name.

The branch has discovered the grave of Driver Matthew J Biggs, Royal Engineers, who died during the First World War.

As part of the RBL’s ‘Every Man Remembered Campaign’ it is intended to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his death.

Matthew was born in Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow, in 1885.

His father was a bugler in the 1st Scottish Rifles.

He got married at the age of 28 in 1908 to a Paisley girl and they lived at 29 Kilnside Road.

The couple had two children — William George Biggs (1909) and Jessie Pentland Biggs (1911).

In May 1915 he enlisted in the 1/1st Renfrewshire Field Company, Royal Engineers.

After training in Paisley and Ayr Matthew was sent to St Ives, apparently awaiting posting to the Western Front. While at St Ives he died in a tragic accident — its cause is now unknown — on Sunday 5 December 1915.

Peter Hutchison has uncovered information which suggests Matthew’s son William George Biggs stayed in Greenock and died here in 1992 at the age of 83.

Those who can confirm the Greenock link and know the whereabouts of any Biggs family members are asked to get in touch with Peter by email at p.hutchison@hotmail.com Alternatively readers with any information can contact me and I’ll pass a message to him.