A TIMES reader who now lives in Denmark is appealing to fellow readers to help him with some family research on a relative who died in the first world war.

David West, who was born and bred in Exeter, said he recently discovered that one of his late grandmother's younger brothers, Frederick Henry Bailey, was a bit of a sports 'hero' who excelled in North Tawton sports early last century.

Frederick was born in Exeter in 1894. He worked as a telegraph messenger in the early 1910s and later worked on the postal staff at Exmouth.

David said: 'He was an excellent footballer, cricketer and half-miler. He played football for Exeter City and Babbacombe and won a lot of awards for the county as an athlete.

'It seems that Fred had an excellent season just before the Great War started in 1914 and it seems that he excelled at the half-mile at the North Tawton sports event.

'I would like to know if there are any readers or experts that have any knowledge of the North Tawton sports.'

David added: 'Fred joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in 1914, and served with the 24th (1st Wessex) Field Ambulance until his death on the first day of the Somme in 1916.

'He is remembered in the cathedral in Exeter, and on the war memorial at Exmouth. He is buried at Ribemont Communal Cemetery Extension, the Somme, France.'

If anyone has any information on Frederick Bailey or of the North Tawton sports please contact David on [email protected]">[email protected]