A gallant soldier who survived the First World War with the help of the medical services was Pte Edgar Retallick,of Upper Brook Street, Ulverston.

He served with the 5th Battalion of the King's Own and was mentioned in dispatches, giving him the right to wear an oak leaf clasp on his service medal ribbon.

The Barrow News on May 12 in 1917 noted that Pte Retallick was 24 and his award for gallant conduct was at Fleuraix, France, on March 28.

Before the war he worked for Ulverston ironmonger Sidney Warhurst and had joined the army in January 1916.

The paper noted: “He was wounded in the left arm on the occasion on which he distinguished himself by bravery and is now in Sheringham Red Cross Hospital in Norfolk.

“His youngest brother, Pte Ernest Retallick, of the 3 rd King’s Own, is now under training.

“Another brother, Trooper John Robert Retallick, of the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry, after serving 10 months in France, has been discharged after undergoing a couple of operations in hospital.”

A letter to Pte Retallick’s parents from his King’s Own officer Captain Morrell said: “I was present when your son distinguished himself and his behaviour under extremely trying circumstances was grand.

“I was in hopes he would get a higher distinction but a certain element of luck prevails in the award of honours and those who deserve don’t always get them.”

The Sheringham auxiliary hospital for wounded soldiers was largely run with the help of Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses and was at The Dales, now the Dales Country House Hotel.

It was built between 1913 and 1914 to designs by Edward Boardman.

The owner, Henry Douglas King MP, allowed his new home to be used as a hospital.