PEOPLE with a good knowledge of World War One are being asked to help a carer fill in the blanks of a story an elderly man has been telling her about his father and a Victoria Cross winner.

Teresa Hurford works for Peninsula Care and often visits George Bradley.

Mr Bradley moved to Bere Alston after many years of living on the south coast after he left the Royal Navy. Mr Bradley's memory is not as good as he would like, so he and Teresa sit and chat over a coffee about things that interest him and the memories he has.

With all the coverage of the recent Remembrance Day services, Mr Bradley started telling Teresa about his father and how his life was saved by a VC holder while in a Prisoner of War Camp.

Teresa said: 'George's memory is not that good, but what he does remember is normally spot on.

'George's father was born around 1898 — William Bradley — the youngest of seven children. At least two of his older brothers had served in the Boer war. He was living near Galashiels when WW1 broke out and went to his local recruitment station to sign up, but was turned away — possibly underage.

'So he walked 18-miles to Hewick and back to successfully sign up.

'I don't have many details about his time in the trenches, but he was taken prisoner.

'While in the POW camp he was picked on by one of the guards who threatened him with a bayonet. At this point another POW stepped in to protect him and took him under his wing. This POW was a VC winner, but George can't remember his name. William always carried a photograph of his hero with him after he was repatriated, which, sadly, George didn't think he ever saw.'

Teresa said now jumping forward many years, George was serving in the Royal Navy and lived in London. His father went to stay with him and spent his days searching for his hero in the area of London that he believed he lived, sadly without success.

Teresa said: 'I have tried to find out who this brave VC holder was. He not only saved William's life, but the father of the four children he had when he returned home and married.

'I discounted all foreign soldiers and focused on those who were born in London as William focused his search there.

'I could only find two WW1 VC winners who came from London and that were POWs.

'One was George Evans, but his was awarded towards the end of the war. The other was Sidney Godley who won his in 1914. He came from London, but moved to Essex where he died in 1957. Sidney heard he had been awarded the VC while he was in the POW camp.

'I did look at soldiers awarded the VC in the Boer war, but can't tell if those served in WW1 as well as taken POW.'

Teresa is now asking for help in how she can go about finding out who he was, and whether there is anyone with more knowledge in this field that could point her in the right direction.

'George has asked me to try to find out more about his father's WW1 story and the name of the VC hero.

'Perhaps there is someone reading this who can help me fill in the details and bring an end to this long hunt.'

Anyone who can help Teresa can email her at [email protected]">[email protected]