STORIES of the sacrifices made by Pershore men in the First World War can now be read in a book put together by people from the town.

Launched on Thursday (November 27) the book has been produced by the Pershore and District Branch of the Royal Naval Association as part of the World War One commemorations.

It documents the contribution to the war effort by Pershore men during the Great War of 1914-1918, featuring the stories and the background of the brave soldiers who fought in the conflict.

The book, supported by a Wychavon grant to fund its production, was officially launched in Pershore at the Civic Centre.

It was put together by Pershore resident Trudy Burge following on from research carried out by Pershore resident Malcolm Farmer prior to his death in February 2013. Mr Farmer's brother, Derek, passed the research on to the branch.

Mrs Burge was already documenting her own research when Derek Farmer made contact with her and the book is the result of a combination of all the work incorporating many news reports from the Evesham Journal, Worcester News and Berrow's Worcester Journal newspaper archives.

The research was not simple as most of the official First World War records were destroyed during bombing the Second World War and the names men were known by were not always the same as those they were officially recorded under.

Mrs Burge, from the Royal Naval Association, said: "I had only planned to create a website to record as much information as I could find on Pershore during the First World War but it was my dad, Ted Annis, who begged me to turn it into a book so that he and many others would have the chance to read what I had discovered.

"I have worked on this project solidly throughout the year, even during the bereavement of my father–in-law in July and now my own dear dad on November 10.

"Thankfully, I had collected the first copy of the book on the day he was taken into hospital so he had the chance to look through it before he died and he told me how proud he was of me."

Donning the cover is Mrs Burge's maternal great grandfather, William James Annis, along with a poem written by Pershore High School student Bethany Ireland.

On the back is Susan Forse’s First World War drawing.

Wychavon District Council’s Centenary Grants Fund helped towards the initial printing costs ensuring the cost could remain at £7.50 a book to enable as many people as possible the chance to purchase it.

The £2.18 profit per copy will all go to Pershore RBL Poppy Appeal.

Copies of the book can be purchased from Pershore Naval Social Club in the High Street, Pershore Friday to Sunday, by visiting pershoreww1.webs.com or by emailing at Trudy Burge at Trudy.burge@gmail.com.