THREE brothers who grew up in Glasbury-on-Wye and their 78-year-old father have successfully completed a 100km walk through the battlefields of The Somme and Flanders.

They were part of a group of 13 men calling themselves the “Rugby Relics” who took part in this year’s Frontline Walk organised by ABF The Soldiers Charity to raise funds for Army veterans and their families.

Chris Price and his brothers, Sean and Owain, as well as their father Derek, who still lives in Glasbury, had set themselves a target of raising £17,000 for the ABF Soldiers Charity but were overwhelmed when they managed to raise £23,000 with more money still to come in.

The idea to take part in the walk came from Chris, a former soldier who now works as a security manager for the Bank of America in Chester. He took part in last year’s Frontline Walk on the Western Front and this year persuaded the other male members of his family to take part.

This year’s Frontline Walk was the last of the five centennial walks run by ABF The Soldiers Charity and took place from October 3-7 starting at Lochnagar Crater, the location of the start of the Battle of the Somme during the First World War, and finishing at the Menin Gate.

“All of the 13-man team completed the walk including my own dad Derek Price who is 78 and Keith Sherer who is 77. The weather was grand and we had excellent walking conditions, with no injuries or issues.

“It was physically demanding, and very emotional visiting the battlefields and cemeteries of WW1 but hugely rewarding when we crossed the finish line at the Menin Gate in Ypres.

“Initially we set ourselves a target of £16,500 and we were unsure if we would reach that. However not only did we reach it but we smashed it and we raised over £23,000 with money still coming in.

“It’s a brilliant amount and we are so grateful to the many people who sponsored us. This money will help soldiers and their families who have been injured or killed through conflict and provide the support they so richly deserve.”

Chris, who is an ex-Royal Military Policeman, served for over 20 years in the British Army, engaging in combat operations in The Gulf, Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland. He said he is keen to support ABF after suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Chris added: “I completed this walk last year, a truly humbling and very emotional experience and will again be competing this year with a larger team of ex-military veterans and family members.

“I am only too aware of the valuable work the ABF does to help servicemen who return home in many cases suffering the effects of battle for many years to come.”

Chris’s older brother Sean served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers in Northern Ireland and Germany.

The band of brothers and their father were able put in some training before the walk on Pen Y Fan last April, with Derek leading the way. At the time Chris said: “Despite numerous knee reconstruction operations, two new knee joints and advancing years he did admirably well on Pen Y Fan on Saturday and led from the front as was expected.”

Chris said poignancy was added to the walk after he discovered the name of his great uncle Pte Thomas Travers is on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in Ypres while researching his family history. Thomas has no known grave and was killed at the battle of Polygon Wood in 1915. Anyone keen to donate towards team’s effort can do so at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ChrisJPrice.