A WAR medal dating back to 1918, awarded to a soldier who saved the life of one of his comrades, has been unearthed at a car boot sale.

The medal belonged to a Private Bolton (39532) of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.

It was discovered by Jim Dyer, a former soldier himself, who found it in an old chest of drawers he bought on the Sunday market at Coppull, near Chorley.

Jim, 62, of Pope Lane, Penwortham, said: "I was in the Loyals myself but I was too young to fight in the war. I'd like to find the family and let them have it as a keepsake."

Jim sent the medal to Fulwood Barracks to see if any military historians could shed some light on the soldier who earned it .

Major Maher, curator of the Regimental Museum at Fulwood Barracks, wrote to Jim telling him that the medal was presented to a "Private Bolton who had remained in a shell hole with a wounded soldier for several hours despite being wounded in the left arm, himself."

He wrote: "He put his own life at risk to help save the life of a comrade."

No further details of the private have so far emerged and now Jim is hoping that Citizen readers might read about Private Bolton and recognise the story.

Anyone who thinks they have heard the tale before should contact the Citizen and we'll put you in touch with Jim Dyer.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.