THE NAME of an Oswaldtwistle soldier carved into the wall is proving a mystery for the owner of a French farmhouse.

Avril Williams, from Gloucester, has been running a guest house in Auchonvillers, in the Somme region of northern France, for five years after moving there to be near her sister.

She lived in the old farmhouse for several months before she discovered the historical connections with her home and the First World War.

Her house stands on the site of the front line and the cellar was used as a medical dressing station.

She discovered by chance some names engraved into the walls of her cellar and at first dismissed it as graffiti.

But on closer inspection found them to be signatures of soldiers.

Now Avril is trying to trace the identity of the men, but has drawn a blank with one who signed himself John E Hargreaves, of Oswaldtwistle, 1918. Her research with the record office in London has shown he was a private in the Seventh Battalion Border Regiment and had the number of 39138.

She believes he was a stretcher bearer, but she is keen to know more about him.

Helen Heyes, from Hyndburn leisure services department, stayed with Avril when she visited the Somme last weekend with local historian Bill Turner and Helen Barratt, from Accrington Library.

They went on a fact-finding mission after receiving numerous requests from tourists about the connections between the Somme and Accrington Pals.

She said: "We went there to do some research and discovered this amazing connection with Oswaldtwistle.

"We don't know anything about this man but we are hoping people in the area may be able to help."

Anyone with any information about John Hargreaves should contact Helen on 01254 380293.

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