A DECADE after Susan Brattin wrote Stow-On-The-Wold War Memorial: A History Of The Memorial And Its Men, new light has been shed on a brave ‘band of brothers-in-arms’ all from a Cotswolds town, leading to the pioneering book being re-published.

Enthralling stories – along with hopes and dreams destined never to be fulfilled – have been uncovered belonging to the 59 servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice for King and Country.

A copy of the original painstaking and poignant research has been on display by the memorial on St Edward’s Church tower wall. It has sparked such a torrent of memories and connections from friends and relatives of the fallen that the author felt compelled to paint a fuller picture of their brief lives.

“Finding out about these men has been like a treasure hunt or trying to complete a complex jigsaw puzzle. Originally they were just names on a war memorial. I first suggested researching them as a way of making our church more interesting to visitors," said Mrs Brattin.

“Today in the Stow area there are still a few families and friends of the Second World War men but 70 years have passed since the end of that conflict. It was indeed time to write down their stories. In World War One, 45 Stow men died, including four pairs of brothers. Happily, in World War Two, there were only about a third of that number – 14 deaths, including two pairs of brothers.

"Revelations ‘happened along’. I haven’t sought more information out; I’ve just been contacted by so many people who’d seen the book, spoken to them in church or met them on my travels. It’s grown from there and taken on a life of its own.”

Mrs Brattin has met members of the fallen soldiers' families including the great nice of Philip Summersbee who had emigrated to Australia and served as a bugler in the 12th Battalion Australian Infantry. He was killed at the Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey, on the first day.

Another couple visiting St Edward's Christmas Tree Festival had more knowledge about Able Seaman Frederick Banning, who was lost at sea on January 26, 1945, aged 18.

Private John Arthurs is the first name in the alphabetical list for WW1 and who had volunteered for action aged 42. His distant relative Derek still lives in Stow and is an active member of Stow Royal British Legion. A Derbyshire man contacted him to say he’d bought John’s medals on eBay. The five medals, three from different monarchs, came back in Stow, along with Private Arthur's war record.

Her quest still continues. Mrs Brattin hasn’t been able to trace any record why Joseph Rose and John Sumption were included in the WW2 names. She hopes readers and church visitors could come up trumps, once again.

The book, at £20, is available from The Borzoi Bookshop, Stow; Evergreen Livres, Stow; or from Mrs Brattin: 01451 832447.

Pic captions: 1. Private John Thomas Arthurs; 2. The Reverend John Evans, Rector of Stow from 1899 to 1935; 3. Bugler Philip Summersbee; 4. Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey; 5. Susan Brattin by Stow War Memorial.