THE great nephew of Thomas Whitham, who was awarded the VC during the First World War, is trying to trace a particular memento of his heroism.

The Burnley soldier received several civic honours to mark his gallantry from the village of Worsthorne.

Almost a century on, his great nephew, Frank Whitham is curious to know the whereabouts of this silver service and is trying to trace the pieces.

He said: “We have recently made a film of Thomas’ life, including his winning of the Victoria Cross, and the subsequent civic honours he received.

“His medal is today on display at Towneley Hall, along with a presentation clock and gold watch he received from the Mayor of Burnley in October 1917.

“In Worsthorne he also received a silver rose bowl and Fedora was presented with a silver tea and coffee service.

“When I was a boy in the 1940s I remember being shown this silver service by a MrsWaddington in Coal Clough Lane.

“The inscription read: ‘Presented to Mrs Whitham on the occasion of her husband winning the Victoria Cross, by the inhabitants of Worsthorne-with-Hurstwood, Oct 13th 1917’.”

He added: “We were unable to track down the silver service during our research for the film, but I am curious to know its whereabouts.

“I wonder if any of your readers may have some information. I can be contacted on frank-whitham@talktalk.net.”

Thomas, who came from Worsthorne, enlisted in the army in 1915 and served with the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards.

Thomas was awarded the highest honour that can be bestowed on a serviceman, after his gallantry in helping save his comrades on July 31, 1917, at Pilckem, near Ypres.

Spotting an enemy machine gunner cutting down the battalion on its flank, he began, under his own initiative, to work his way from shell hole to shell hole towards him, despite coming under the heavy fire of both sides.

Together with an officer and two other ranks he captured the gun, thus saving many lives.

After returning home from the war, however, he struggled to find work and he was forced to sell both his VC and his gold watch, which were later rescued from the pawn shop by Burnley Corporation.

Thomas died in an accident in 1924, while looking for work, aged just 36 and was buried at Wheatley Lane Inghamite Church.

In 2008, it was announced that Burnley Schools’ Sixth Form would be renamed Thomas Whitham Sixth Form.