THE life of a soldier who won a military honour 100 years ago has been celebrated in a special booklet.

Captain Archibald McLaren Ferrie M.B., R.A.M.C., Spec. Res. was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" on February 18, 1918, at the age of 25.

His honour was published by The London Gazette.

With the help of the St Helens Townships Family History Society where Pauline Hurst has deciphered his old notes, one of his two will executors, Tony Brand, published a booklet about Captain Ferrie's life.

Margaret Crosbie from the society also gathered details from public records.

It includes his memories of being on the front line and about the various people he met.

The booklet, which also includes documents relating to his military achievements, education, medical career, is titled A Soldier and Doctor: Memories of the First World War.

After the First World War, Captain Ferrie settled in St Helens and joined the practice of Dr Reid.

In his post war notes, he said: "I have little or no contact with my friends of the war years, like my school and college friends, so many never returned."

He became a well-known GP before going on to become an influential figure in the town as a police surgeon for 30 years, which involved investigating serious crimes.

He later moved to a property called Fernlea on Dentons Green Road and later moved to Hamewith on Chapel Lane in Eccleston.

Neighbours remember him as being a popular neighbour.

In1954, he married Mrs Eveline May Evans (nee Else) before she died in 1965.

Archibald described his 11 years of marriage as the happiest days of his life.

Dr Ferrie died on January, 2 1992 at Fairfield Independent Hospital in Crank at the age of 99.

He left a will with an estate valued at more than £1.3 million.

His family tree is also included in the booklet.

There have been 300 copies that have been published.

Some of them are available to be picked up at Eccleston Library.