A memorial to three brothers, who all died in the carnage of the First World War, has been found.

The grave of William and Mary Burnell also bears the names of their sons William, George and Edwin who were buried on the battlefields of northern Europe where they were killed in action almost a century ago.

Over the decades the grave in Dartmouth's Longcross Cemetery had disappeared under a holly bush and other growth wrecked the stonework and broke a three-foot high cross before covering it.

In a complete coincidence, a relative spotted the lost grave when part of it was uncovered during some clearance work.

He investigated further and realised what had been discovered.

Now family members have clubbed together to pay for the grave to be cleared and restored.

Descendants from as far away as Italy, Spain and the Netherlands contributed to the £736 it has cost restore the grave and replace stonework and the original inscriptions, revealed William and Mary's great, great grandson John Clarke, who lives in Clevedon, Somerset.

During the Great War, as it was known, William Burnell was working as a telephonist at the Dartmouth post office as news came through about his sons' deaths.

George, a private with the Devonshire Regiment, was killed in action on the Somme in February 1916, aged 28.

William, a lance corporal serving with the Rifle Brigade, died at Ypres on August 14, 1917, aged 35.

Less than two months later, Edwin, a lance corporal with the Devonshires, was killed at Ypres aged 25.

Mr Clarke revealed how his uncle Brian Ridalls, who lives in Above Town, Dartmouth, was tending the grave of his parents in Longcross Cemetery as work was going on to clear away nearby undergrowth.

'He noticed that some old monumental masonry had been uncovered by the clearance work and took a closer look,' said John.

He said his uncle had been tending his parent's grave for many years and had not known that the hidden memorial was there – let alone there was a family connection.

John said: 'The gravestone exposed had been severely damaged by a large holly tree growing through its centre.

'The marble cross had been broken from its plinth and was lying on its side on top of the grave.

'Mr Ridalls immediately understood the significance of this discovery as he is the widower of Christine May Ridalls, nee Henderson, who was the great granddaughter of William and Mary, descended from their eldest daughter Charlotte Urith Burnell, later Harris. The loss of the three brothers is also a well remembered part of our family history having been passed down by word of mouth from generation to generation.'

Mr Clarke said a small group of relatives had met with Dart mouth Town Council clerk Chris Horan at the grave shortly after it had been discovered.

He said: 'The meeting objective was to decide what could be done to restore the grave.

'Chris Horan kindly offered, on behalf of the town council, to have the tree removed if the family would pay the costs of repairing the monumental masonry.'