VOLUNTEERS from the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock have been trying to discover the identity of an "unknown soldier" who died in the Great War.

In 2013 the remains of a body were discovered by a farmer near Arras in France following storm damage caused by heavy rain.

Artefacts found with the body revealed the soldier had been an officer of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

But despite extensive efforts it has not been possible yet to confirm the soldier's identity but research so far suggests the soldier could have been Second Lieutenant John Bulmer, or Second Lieutenant Charles Harper, thought to have died on May 3, 1917, and commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

On Tuesday items belonging to the soldier will be handed over to museum by the Ministry of Defence.

Museum director Ursula Corcoran said: "Once the local gendarmerie had declared the find to be of no criminal interest it became a case of trying to identify a soldier of the Great War.

"In due course it was established that the remains were those of an officer of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

"This had been decided because of the few artefacts found with his remains.

"These included a silver pocket watch, a whistle, a regimental button and some remnants of his uniform.

"Officers' uniform being of different quality to that of other ranks made it clear that the body was that of an officer although no identification of the actual rank has been possible.

Ms Corcoran added that extensive research was carried out by SOFO but this proved inconclusive and, despite attempts to obtain a DNA match from families it had not been possible to identify the officer.

She added: "This was the first time we have been given artefacts relating to one of our soldiers and have been asked to conduct research like this.

"The artefacts will form an important part of our displays in the museum."

In September a reburial, arranged by the Ministry of Defence, took place at the HAC Cemetery at Ecoust-St Mein, Nord-Pas de Calais.

The remains were discovered in a private garden at Henin sur Cojeul, but despite extensive research by the Regiment and the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre the officer could not be identified.

The inscription on the soldier's headstone reads: "An Unknown Soldier of The Great War, Oxford & Bucks LT INF."

Ms Corcoran added: "SOFO is enormously proud to be receiving the artefacts and has continued to research the possible stories behind the unknown soldier."

Second Lieutenant John Bulmer was in the 4th Battalion of the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry and attended Oxford University's Merton College.

He was posted as missing, presumed killed in action, aged 22, during an attack near Cherisy on May 3, 1917, and is also commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas-de-Calais.

Charles Harper was a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion of the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry and died aged 36.

Born in 1880, he was the son of the Rev EJ and Frances Wetherall Harper of Broughton Rectory, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, and had two brothers, Francis and Lionel and four sisters, Margaret, Mabel, Constance and Grace.