A local Radstock Museum volunteer is appealing to families to help in his research into local war heroes.

Nick Waton wants to keep their names and stories in the museum archives.

But if your family member is not on the list and also fought in the war, he would also like to include them.

"The details we need are those of each person's war service and of how each of them died. Apart from our 34-year old gunner, below, and without access to service records, we can only speculate on the circumstances and it would be a greater tribute to each if we could tell more of each story," says Nick.

They are:

Miss Elizabeth Louisa Barnes, aged 24, Private, Auxiliary Territorial service, died 10 July. The daughter of Frank and Gertrude Lily Barnes of Westfield, she is buried in St John's Church Cemetery in Midsomer Norton. In 1939 the parents were living at 24 Bryant's Avenue and Frank was a bricklayer.

Kenneth Bishop Cooksley, aged 28, Warrant Officer Class II, 55 (The West Somerset Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (RA), died 23 April. The son of Alfred Henry Sydney and Edith Mary Cooksley and husband of Edna B A Cooksley of Writhlington, he is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery in Germany.

Cyril Leslie Cray, aged 19, Private, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry, died 13 April. The son of Henry Edward and Eva Mary Alexandra Cray of Radstock, he is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery in Germany too. In 1939 the parents were at 30 Westhill Gardens and 'Edward' was a general labourer.

Frederick Henry Heron, aged 20, Flight Sergeant, 189 (Bomber) Squadron, RAF Voluntary Reserve, died 7 March. The son of Frederick Henry and Alice Maud Heron of Radstock, he is also buried at Becklingen War Cemetery in Germany.

Ronald Bartrum Lapham, age unknown, Private, 12th (Airborne) Battalion Devonshire Regiment, died 24 March. The son of Herbert George and Mary Alice Lapham of Westfield, he is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in Germany. In 1939 the parents lived at 5 Jubilee Road and Herbert was a coal hewer.

Francis John Pritchard, aged 25, Driver, Royal Army Service Corps (RASC), died 20 April. The son of Gladys Pritchard and stepson of Austin Warr of Radstock, he is buried in Bath (Locksbrook) Cemetery. He lived with his parents at 6 Wells Square in 1939 and he was a grocer's assistant and motor accessories salesman.

Gilbert Thomas Turner, aged 34, Gunner, 603 Regiment, RA, died 28 May. Gilbert was the son of Elisha and Eliza Turner, husband of Iris Annie Turner of Radstock and is buried at Caserta War Cemetery in Italy. A lot more is known about him as family members had responded following an earlier appeal. However, it would be interesting to speak to anyone else who knows his story.

William Turner, aged 38, driver, 703 Armoured Division Troops Company, RASC, died 6 April. He was the son of Henry and Phoebe Turner of Radstock. William was a plasterer's labourer in 1939 and lived with his siblings in his parents' home at 1 Wells Square.

You can contact Nick on 01761 414731 or by email on [email protected]