RELATIVES of a Neilston soldier killed in World War I travelled to the Somme Battlefields to commemorate the centenary of his death.

More than 60 members of Lieutenant Patrick Joseph McCusker's extended family made the journey to his graveside in Knightsbridge Cemetery, Mesnil-Martinsart on Remembrance Sunday.

Descendants from Renfrewshire, as well as relations from as far away as Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney all congregated at the site where Lt McCusker was buried aged 22.

Great-nephew James McCusker and wife Jacqui, from Paisley, were among the 63-strong travelling party.

Though the family is now scattered across the world, careful planning and a desire to pay their respects to their relative resulted in the three-day trip.

Jacqui believes each member of the group took something away from the unique visit and said: "It was absolutely fantastic.

"It went exceptionally well, there were 63 of us at the Mass and grave site.

"He (Lt McCusker) was one of four brothers and the descendants of each brother were there. The trip was moving but it was great fun as well.

"On Saturday morning we went to a museum in Albert which was fascinating. It recreated the bunkers and gave everyone a flavour of what he went through."

The British Medical Journal reported Lt McCusker died in action on November 13, 1916 during the Battle of the Ancre, the 12th of the Battle of the Sommes.

Raised in Neilston, he moved down south to attend Stonyhurst College in Lancashire.

Lt McCusker, who died fighting with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, returned to Scotland to study medicine at Glasgow University before receiving his commission.

Father John Eagers, of St James’ Catholic Church in Renfrew, who is also a great-nephew of Lt McCusker, led a Mass at his burial site on Remembrance Sunday.

Being able to mark the 100th anniversary of his death on the Somme Battlefields proved to be a poignant, yet surreal, experience for the soldier's descendants.

Jacqui said: "The Sunday was the main day and we all gathered and hired a coach. We then went out to the cemetery – we had to walk half a kilometre on a path through a turnip field to get to it.

"We were carrying a table for use as an altar, white cloths to cover that, candles, a wreath, wooden crosses, the ceramic poppy, copies of the Order of Service.

Fr Eagers had robes, a chalice, bread and wine. We were a right motley crew.

"The way the graveyard was set out, the alter was under a big cross and it so happened the gravestone was at the perimeter of the area.

"It was just quite fortunate as to the positioning. It was a beautiful Mass and it was quite unreal because you were just in a field.

"Everybody loved it. It was lovely how everybody made a nice weekend of it."