Not everyone who fought for King and Country in WW1 was honoured for their bravery and service on local war memorials.

And QLocal's Roger Blaxall is grateful for this fascinating story from Pete Gateley of Prescot Road who met him on Remembrance Sunday with his own poignant 'memorial'.

A combination of the centenary of the 1914-18 Great War, and having more time since retiring, has spurred Pete to find out about his grandfather Peter Gateley (b. 15th May 1897).

“He served as a trimmer in the Mercantile Fleet Auxillary and we have his medals, he died on 30th April 1925 but the medals did not reach his widow until April 1926.

“We still have not found out what happened to grand-dad, nan says he was injured when his ship was hit by enemy fire but it seems that his war records were among many destroyed in enemy action when military archives were bombed in WW2, so we still have a lot more finding out to do.

“However, the wider point is this: there must be many other soldiers and sailors who died as a result of their injuries after the war had ended and while attending the St Anne's ceremony at the war memorial in Prescot Road last Sunday, it struck me that he and they will never be commemorated on any memorial to the fallen - yet their sacrifice in fighting for our country was no less and equally should not be forgotten."

Pete sent two photos, one of Peter as a fit young man in uniform (he'd have been 17 in 1914, so ideal age for joining up) the other after his discharge document in 1919.

“To us, he looks like an almost different person and a much less-well person, wouldn’t you agree?” he added.