THE proud granddaughter of a sergeant who served in the First World War has shared his heartfelt letter from the battlefield to mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice.

Nellie Jackson, of Sinclair Avenue, Longford, discovered the letter after her son James decided to research their family tree.

Her son's discovery left her humbled after reading about her granddad's remarkable courage in the face of adversity.

James Pridden, who served with The King's Liverpool Regiment, was was wounded and captured as a prisoner of war in Germany.

James, who studied at the National School, died from his wounds on April 5, 1918.

His heroic efforts will never be forgotten as he received military medals for his service.

Great-grandma Nellie, 84, told the Warrington Guardian how she remained moved by the sacrifice her grandfather made for the future generations.

She said: "It was very emotional to read the letters.

"It's difficult not to get upset when you think about what happened to him."

James, who lived with his brother on Gilbert Street, spent 17 years in the army before he started working at a timber merchants.

But he returned to the frontline when war broke out.

In a letter to his sister, who was living on Fairclough Avenue, he said: "I'm lucky to be alive.

"We have been getting a very rough time of it for the last six weeks, being in all of the heaviest of fighting at the front.

"We were hand-to-hand grips with the old Buche a couple of weeks back.

"One of the tightest corners I have ever been in since the war started.

"I thought I saw visions of seeing 'Blighty' again, of course minus a leg or something else.

"I got specifically recommended in the last scrap we had and a car from the general commanding the division.

"I have been awarded a military medal."