FORMER military man Ray Bather is preparing a fitting tribute to the soldiers who fell on the Western Front during the First World War.

In June, the 58-year-old from Spartylea will cycle from St Quentin in France to Dunkirk on the Channel coast, which formed the British front during 1917.

Mr Bather, who served as a flight lieutenant with the RAF for 21 years, will wear a WW1 British Army captain’s uniform for the five-day mission, named the Centurion Ride.

Along the route he will visit 100 war cemeteries, which include the graves of soldiers from the Northumberland Fusiliers.

The father-of-two, who takes a keen interest in military history, said: “I will leave a poppy at a grave of one soldier at each cemetery, and record their names.

“I will take care to visit all nationalities struck by the tragedy of that war and pay tribute to each of the fallen. My first cemetery will contain only one soldier, yet I will also visit the very largest cemeteries. I will also go to Mons in Belgium where the first and last British soldiers died.”

Mr Bather, who is originally from Yorkshire, has lived in the Allen Valleys for 12 years. He enjoys cycling using an electrically assisted pedal cycle, which will be his mode of transport on the trip, to raise funds for the Royal British Legion.

He added: “I wouldn’t be able to do this distance over five days without this particular bike, but it’s something I really want to do.

“I will be wearing an authentic WW1 uniform and making sure I visit graves where there are Northumberland Fusiliers and those from my native Yorkshire, as well as every nationality involved in the war.”

Mr Bather also made an appeal to Hexham Courant readers who may have loved ones buried at cemeteries along the route.

He said: “I will visit the graves of relatives if they are on or close to my route, and I plan to take some knitted or crochet poppies with me.”

To sponsor Ray, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/TheCenturionRide, his Facebook page or call 07702 262075.