HARRY Fox’s grandfather George Andrews, who was the lock-keeper on the Kennet and Avon Canal, and uncle Harry Andrews, both served in the Wiltshire Regiment.

Mr Fox, now 88, of Trowbridge, writes: “On a dreary cold morning on December 12, 1914, George Andrews and his young son, Harry, left their cosy lock-keeper’s cottage and their family and walked the towpath to the railway station to embark at Southampton for India in the army. They were both called up to join the 2nd/4th Wiltshire Regiment.

“George had already served with the 2nd Wilts in Africa in the Boer War and Harry, aged 17, was a member of the Territorials.

“While in Poona, India, there came a call for volunteers for Mesopotamia and an attempt to capture Baghdad.

“Harry at once volunteered and was soon sailing up the Persian Gulf to Iraq. Later the British and Indian force met a huge Turkish army and with ammunition and food very low they had to fall back to a village called Kut-el-Amara. Here they were besieged by the Turkish army for over four months. Starving and diseased, the garrison had to surrender.

“They were all taken prisoner by the Turks and although weak with starvation and disease were forced to march in blazing heat to Baghdad. Those who could go no further were left to die in the desert.

“Harry managed to reach Baghdad, but died in misery from starvation and disease on May 31, 1916.

He was 19. He is buried in the military cemetery in Baghdad, Iraq.

“George did not return from India until the spring of 1919, after four-and-a-half-years away from his family.”