Roy Williams was at Douglas war memorial on Sunday to commemorate his uncle Edward James Caley, who was one of the first Manxmen to sign up to fight in the Great War.

Private Caley, of the 6th Dragoons (inniskilling) was killed 100 years ago while fighting for King and country in France during the First World War.

Private Caley spent nearly four years in the army, before he was killed by a shell during the German offensive in 1918, just weeks before the Allied forces began to counter back German advancements.

His nephew, Mr Williams, said: ’Edward, or Teddy as he was always known in the family must have been about 17 and a half when he first signed up in 1914.

’In some pieces he’s been referred as the first Manxman to sign up and in others as one of the first, so he was certainly an early volunteer.

’At the time the family were living at 28 Tynwald Street and he worked at a sweet maker down the road, between the house and the factory one morning he must have gone into the office and signed up.’

Mr Williams says he remembers when he was growing up, there was a large picture of Private Caley in the house and the family are still proud of him.

’The family had lived in Wellington Square, which is where Shoprite is, around Chester Street and they moved into Tynwald Street because Teddy was in the Scouts or a group like it which owned this house so they could rent it. For 90 years, I went to France and it was a very rewarding experience to see the area he was killed and this year I’m laying a wreath that I’ve bought off the British Legion.’

Private Caley’s body now lies in the Pozières cemetery in France.