A FORMER Warrington MP has penned a chronicle of his grandfather and fellow soldiers on the frontline during the First World War after tracing his family’s history.

Mike Hall launches his 14-year labour of love, The Miner’s Pals Battalion, at Waterstones in Golden Square today, Thursday, at 7pm.

The book is an account of the battalion of coal miners in which his granddad, Thomas McBride, served on the Western Front – gaining a prestigious Military Medal for his actions under fire.

Mike, who was Labour MP for Warrington South from 1992 to 1997 and then Weaver Vale until 2010, said: "It all started with family research.

"According to family legend he, and several other soldiers together with an officer went over the top under machine gun fire to rescue an injured soldier and take him to safety.

"What actually happened was in 1917 during an attack on the Hindenburg Line they needed trenches digging up to the line.

"My grandfather, who was a private, volunteered along with sergeants called Till, Ward and Matthews.

"They went into bomb holes under heavy fire, along with Second Lieutenant Wight and began digging the trench.

"They all survived and were awarded the Military Medal with the exception of the officer who received the Military Cross, which is one step down from the Victoria Cross.

"That was just a class thing and a recurring theme throughout the war."

Mike, who was a Warrington councillor between 1979 and 1993 and was council leader for seven years, added: "I’m looking forward to going along to Waterstones and to sign a few copies for anyone that wants to buy one.

"It’s taken a long time and a great deal of painstaking research to put it together and I couldn’t be more thrilled."

Waterstones manager Matt Harrop said: "I am delighted that Mike has agreed to launch his new book on the store on September 10. We are seeing a growing interest in local and family history, with more people researching their family tree, thanks to BBC shows like Who Do You Think You Are?"

- Former MP Mike Hall launches his new book The Miner’s Pals Battalion at Waterstones in Golden Square at 7pm