AN APPEAL has been made to Times readers to help fit together the missing 'pieces of jigsaw' in the story of a British soldier who died in the first world war.

Retired history teacher Trevor Green, who lives in Lancaster, Lancashire, has spent 27 years trying to piece together information about his grandmother's brother, William Vernon.

Trevor, aged 65, is hoping to make contact with the descendants of William's widow, Emma Jarman, who was a servant girl in Lamerton. She was the daughter of Mary Palmer and John Jarman.

In 1914 William Vernon enlisted at the outbreak of first world war with the South Staffordshire Regiment, at Hednesford Drill Hall, Cannock, Staffordshire.

He was formerly a coal hewer (a miner) living in Allport Road, Cannock.

He became 12061 Private Vernon, B Company, and left for France on August 1, 1915. He met Emma while he was training in Devon.

The soldier was sent to the front but returned to England on compassionate leave to marry Emma in Tavistock in December 1915. It emerged that Emma became pregnant before the wedding, which took place at St Peter's Church, Lamerton.

William probably returned to France after the wedding.

Sadly, William was wounded on December 29, 1916, while supporting the line at night and died of his wounds at number 5, Military Hospital, Rouen, on February 7, 1917 aged 27. He is buried at Saint Sever cemetery Rouen. His name appears on Cannock's War Memorial.

A boy, Leslie William Vernon, was born in January 1916, and it is thought joined the Merchant Navy to become a Chief Petty Officer. It is doubtful if William ever saw him.

Emma, as a widow, received a pension of £8.1s 10d sent from Wittington Barracks, Lichfield. Staffordshire on March 27, 1917. That was made up of the statutory one off payment of £5 entitled by a widow and £3 1s 0d in back pay. It is believed she would have also received a 'dead man's penny' — a medal given to war widows.

Unfortunately William was not the only victim in his family of the Great War. His brother was gassed at Vimy Ridge while his other brother Charles was wounded.

Trevor asked the Times: 'With the 100 years in mind I would dearly like to make contact with Emma's family and relations in Devon to share the wealth of information I have. I would dearly like to see photographs of Emma and, dare I say, their wedding day.

'William's life story has been like a jig-saw with just the corner pieces missing – those of Emma and her family.'

If you can help Trevor contact him on [email protected]">[email protected] or call him on 077097 22509.

l Pictured left is the headstone dedicated to Private William Vernon in Saint Sever Cemetery.