A WORCESTER man will cycle 300 miles in four days to Ypres to see the memorial to his great grandad who fought in the First World War and raise funds for the Royal British Legion.
IT consultant Jason Dakin will start his ride tomorrow to get to the memorial of Private William Powell.
Pte Powell enlisted in the army on October 16, 1900, in London – Middlesex – and spent seven years in service, including fighting in the Boer War and spending five years in reserve.
He was in the Border Regiment from 1900 to 1907 and then re-enlisted in the army in 1914, heading to France on October 25.
He was involved in action in the first Battle of Ypres in the November and was killed in action on March 12, 1915, whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion Border Regiment. He was fighting in the 1st Battle of Neuve Chapelle (Northern France) and was just 34 years and nine months old when he died.
Pte Powell has no known grave in France but his name is commemorated in the Le Touret Memorial on panels standing in Le Touret Military Cemetery.
Jason will be accompanied on the trip by former Droitwich soldier Richard Pedley who served in the Royal Engineers from 1988 to 1998. He fought in the first Gulf conflict, served three tours in Bosnia and will also be raising funds for the RBL.
Jason said: “I have never seen my great grandad’s memorial and have always wanted to.
“My dad never met his granddad and he wants to go back so I’m hoping to take him in the summer as well.”
Jason also turned 50 on June 9 and wanted to do something challenging in his milestone year.
He added: “The trip was Richard’s idea and he said as the memorial was only five miles off route it would be ideal as we could visit it.”
Jason, who is 6ft 7ins tall, has been training hard, shedding two stone in the process.
He recently cycled up to Sheffield, successfully completing the 120-mile route in two days.
“I have never done anything like this before and am really looking forward to it.
“This is definitely the biggest fund-raiser I have ever taken on.”
Jason set himself a fund-raising target of £2,000 and already had £2,165 pledged at the time of the Observer going to press.
Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/jason-dakin to pledge to Jason’s cause or text JAPD50 £5 to 70070 to donate £5.
