WHEN the First World War swung into gear, hopes that "it will all be over by Christmas" and bullish patriotic pride saw the young men of the day falling over themselves to join up, while politicians and senior army figures spoiled for a fight.

If they had known the nature of the muddy, rat-infested trenches, the shells and machine guns, the pain, suffering and huge losses they were going to suffer, it is a fair bet they would not have been so eager.

As old age claims the last survivors able to recall those horrors first-hand, it has never been more essential that their awful reality not be forgotten, and then repeated.

That is why projects such as the bid at Holy Trinity Church, Malvern, led by Rex Thomas, to restore their war memorial and document the lives of those whose names it bears, are so important.

As well as adding forgotten names to the memorial, illustrated accounts of the lives of the men who gave their lives for their country will be available at the church when the project is complete.

Local historian Paul Roberts, who has designed a website commemorating 436 people from the Malvern area who fell in the First World War, at www .malvernremembers.org.uk, has helped with the research.

He is in no doubt as to the vital need for the work, and of the relevance of documenting the lives recorded on the memorial.

"It brings people back to life," he said.

As an indirect result of the research into the backgrounds of the men whose names are on the memorial, a diary chronicling the movements and activities of one of the named soldiers, Samuel Bannister, has been returned to his family.

A master at Malvern Boys' School, Capt Bannister was popular in the town and was for some time a prominent member of West Malvern FC.

He joined the Worcestershire Yeomanry on September 2, 1914, and five days later left his charge of youngsters to start seven months' training at Newbury.

After fighting with distinction and bravery throughout the brutal conflict, he returned home for what was to be his last ever Christmas in 1916. He was just 24 years old when he was mortally wounded at Monchy-le-Preux near Arras, in France, on April 15.

Writing to his parents, his commander, S Kerans des-cribed how a shell that also wounded another officer blew off the young man's arm. He reported that Capt Bannister had refused to be moved behind the lines for treatment until his comrade had been cleared. Cmdr Kerans des-cribed him as "a fine example to those around him".

"When he was taken away, the whole of the company cheered him," he said. "I consider I have lost the best officer and friend in the battalion."

Like so many young men of his generation, he left behind a broken-hearted young woman, Violet Smith, who according to her cousin, June Greaves, had been "very much in love" with the dashing captain.

"She didn't speak about him a lot," she remembered, "But when she did, there was a look on her face that showed it was the real thing."

When sorting through her cousin's effects, she found a diary that chronicled Capt Bannister's movements up until two days before he died.

Mentioning the find to Rex Thomas, one of those researching the lost local soldiers, she was told the Bannister family still lives in Malvern, and decided to return it to them.

"I was very moved to think of handling something like that," said Christine Bannister, whose husband Roland is Capt Bannister's nephew. "It's lovely to do that sort of thing."

Mrs Greaves' brother, Stanley McPherson, who fell in the Second World War, is to be included for the first time on the memorial as a result of the renovation. It was in order to get his name added to the list that she first got in touch with the researchers.

Born in Malvern, he went to school in the town and lived in Chester Place, Malvern Link. He became a civil servant working in Malvern and Coventry, and was a keen sportsman, playing badminton, tennis and water polo.

Mrs Greaves had very little information about where and when her brother died, and in what circumstances.

"We were told he was buried in India, and that was it," she said. As a result of the research, she discovered he is buried near the foot of Mount Everest, and has even seen a photograph of the grave. She also learned that he died in a tank battle.

His case illustrates the merit of the project - as well has learning more about him, his name will be commemorated for the first time and give comfort to the sister he left behind.

"The name Stanley McPherson is now going on the Trinity memorial," Mrs Greaves said.

"Stanley McPherson has come back to Malvern. He has come home."