BERNARD Revill tells me his mum, Veronica, was reading a Coffey Time article relating to the First World War.

“Her maiden name was Webster and her uncle, George Webster, from Pocket Nook, was in the 2/5th Battalion of the South Lancs regiment during the 1st World War. He went on to win the Distinguished Conduct Medal, second only to the Victoria Cross.

“The family donated the medal to the regiment in the mid 1980s and in the late 1990s the regiment loaned the medal to the Lancashire museum in Preston and it spent sometime there as part of a First World War display.”

Lieutenant Walter J Brown’s citation said he received the DCM: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He, by his promptness in getting his gun into action, aided very considerably in repelling a hostile raid.

“Later, he pulled a shell which was about to explode out of a dump and threw it over the traverse, where it exploded harmlessly, thereby saving the lives of the gun crew. On another occasion he kept his gun in action after the pit had been completely blown in. His disregard of personal safety afforded a splendid example to his men.”