These words grace a memorial headstone in Belgium that marks the final resting place of a 'lost' Hunter World War 1 soldier.

The words will be read today during a 5pm remembrance ceremony for Herbert Leslie Prior of Branxton, which will co-incide with the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Messines.

Herbert Prior was a lance corporal in 'Maitland's Own' 34th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force.

The 26-year-old was killed in action on June 10th 1917 during the Battle of Messines, near Ypres, in Belgium.

He had since been listed as having no known grave.

His name was included on the Menin Gate memorial in the Belgian township of Leper.

After 12 years of research by great-grand-nephew Murray Prior, of Canberra, the mystery surrounding Corporal Prior was solved.

In a rare move, the Office of Australian War Graves accepted Mr Prior's research and agreed to erect the memorial headstone to recognise Corporal Prior's last resting place.

Wreaths will be laid at today's commemoration by Australian embassy officials and members of the Prior family.

The service will will conclude with the sounding of the last post in recognition of Corporal Prior's sacrifice.

Mr Prior said it had been accepted in his family that Corporal Prior died in the heat of battle and the fortunes of war denied him a known grave.

A letter written on the battlefield by Corporal Prior's best mate, Lance Corporal Laurence McMahon, another Hunter soldier, to Corporal Prior's wife provided the key piece of evidence in the research.

The letter, which was handed down within the Prior family, said his mate was buried in a little cemetery called 'Charing Cross'.

WW1 historian Ted Smith and Hunter war historian David ? helped piece the puzzle together by using old trench maps overlaid with modern maps to pinpoint the cemetery.

The cemetery was next to a dressing station called Charing Cross, in Ploeg??, which was renamed and now forms part of the Strand Military Cemetery.

Battle during the northern spring of 1918 raged over the area, and the cemetery was damaged by artillery fire.

Mr Prior said "The thought of an official commemoration fills me with emotion and a great deal of satisfaction. I'm happy for my grandmother and other members of the family who have lived for so long with the knowledge of no known grave for Corporal Prior."