AN AMATEUR historian has researched the stories behind the 98 Burnham men who fought and died in the First World War.
Walter Jenkins, 63, of Chapel Road, researched the men immortalised on the wall in St Mary's Church for his new book Our Dear and Brave Men.
The list of men includes Gilbert Laws, an Olympic medallist who won a sailing gold in the 1908 summer Olympics and died shortly after the war, which was attributed as a war death. It also includes Herbert Tunbridge who lied about his age – knocking 10 years off – and going into combat aged 60.
Mr Jenkins was inspired to take on the 18-month project after taking a trip to Estaples in northern France for his wife Ruth's birthday last summer – and laid a poppy posy on the grave of her great uncle.
"After returning from France during mass I looked up in church and saw the names on the wall and thought to myself that I wanted to get to know the people behind those names on that list," said Mr Jenkins.
"It was an emotional journey to France and I thought it would be a fantastic way to remember the Great War in its centenary year and the brave men from Burnham who fought in it. It was great to know that some of the families still live in Burnham."
The couple have family connections to those who fought in the war – Mrs Jenkins had two great uncles who fought in France while Mr Jenkins had a great uncle who fought in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey.
"I have found out some wonderful stories of the people named here. It's a fascinating side to the Burnham people that fought so bravely during the First World War," said Mr Jenkins.
Old copies of the Essex Chronicle, a visit to the Essex Record Office in Chelmsford and the national military archives at Kew all came in handy during his research.
The book also contains details of the war memorials erected in four churches in Burnham. It also provides information on the graves marking the dead and the famous "dead man's penny", given to wives and loved ones.
Through his research, Mr Jenkins helped to find two relatives of Burnham resident Nancy Crisp's family – Jesse Francis Whiting who died years after in a hospital after fighting near Ypres, and Ernest Whiting who died as a prisoner of war.
Mrs Crisp said: "I'm a keen family historian so it was wonderful to find out a bit more about my predecessors."
Walter has recently paid for 98 bulbs to be planted in the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to remember the Burnham soldiers.
For more information go to www.ourdearandbravemen.co.uk
