A BOMBARDIER'S story throughout the First World War has been uncovered thanks to preserved newspaper articles and photographs.

George Brough, whose exact date of birth is unknown, fought in the First World War and lived in Wakefield Street, Warrington.

Articles published in the Examiner newspaper during the war follow his journey, from his horrific injuries to his return home.

George was injured in the war when a shrapnel shell burst near him, two pieces of it catching him in the left knee, one in the right toe and three in the back.

Two men carried him into a wood and put him under a tree to rest.

The Examiner reported: "Even there, however, he was by no means out of further danger, for ever and anon, shells came screeching through the trees and one of them lopped on branches from the very tree where he reclined."

George was soon transported to a private house at Hyen, just outside Mons.

He remained there for three days before the house was captured by the Germans and he was taken as a prisoner to the military hospital at Mons, then in the hands of the Germans.

Whilst in the hospital, George was attended to by Belgian doctors and nurses after his leg was amputated due to his injuries.

The Examiner said: "Unknown to the Germans, the Belgian nurses were most kind to the wounded British "Tommies", smuggling in extra fare and generally doing all in their power to make them as comfortable as possible."

A typical day's food for George would consist of a pint of coffee and occasionally one round of brown bread for breakfast, potatoes and thin soup for lunch and potatoes in the evening.

In an Examiner interview, George recalled: "On an occasion a German staff officer visited the hospital and upon the wounded English prisoners being pointed out to him he observed in English; "You English pigs- you killed my son!"

George was also told stories from fellow wounded solders about the brutalities they had witnessed.

He remembered: "When assistance was impossible for one soldier who had two of his fingers blown off, he put his hand up and called the attention of the officer in charge.

"The officer struck him across the neck with the flat of his sword and knocked him down and then told a private to kill him.

"The private gave the man two thrusts with his bayonet, the weapon going clean through him, just below the heart."

An exchange of prisoners took place and George and other seriously injured British soldiers were exchanged for captured Germans.

George was among the first prisoner exchanges during the First World War.

Upon George's return home, Warrington Guardian reported: "A Bombardier from the Royal Field Artillery returned to his home in Wakefield Street, Warrington, after being released in an exchange of British and German prisoners."

George married Nellie Brough and they had three children, Lesley, Arnold and Nellie.

Lesley and Arnold followed in their father's footsteps and fought in the Second World War where Arnold died in service.