A NEW book by Codford author Romy Wyeth is reliving the amazing individual tales of those who fought in wars and conflicts across more than a century.

Over the Hills and Far Away contains 16 chapters covering conflicts from the First World War to Vietnam and the Iraq War, with first-hand accounts.

Mrs Wyeth, who has lived in Codford since 1973 and has been writing for more than 30 years, said: “I was on a coach with Colonel Michael Elcomb in 2008 and he was telling me how he helped a German Burgomaster’s family after the Second World War.

“They were terrified that the area they were in was going to be given to the Russians and he was able to warn this family and they were able to get out and move to safety.

“Fifty years later, one of the daughters of this family who acted as translator was reunited with Colonel Elcomb and I just thought that was a lovely untold story, and so I began to look around for more stories.”

The book begins at the start of the century with Australian soldier Harry Hatherley’s letters from a training camp in Australia and while in transit to Britain in 1916.

Readers are also taken through the trenches of the Western Front, Berlin during the Cold War, Northern Ireland during The Troubles, Vietnam and much more.

The final chapter of the book centres on MP Dr Andrew Murrison’s time during the Iraq War in 2003 as a doctor.

“It’s not a book that’s going to make money but it is something to record and make sure that important stories that will never see the light of day unless written down are told,” added Mrs Wyeth.

“Most of the men now live in Codford or around there and I’m very lucky that we have so many remarkable men living here.

“I believe these stories are important and I think people will enjoy them.”

The book, Over the Hills and Far Away, costs £15 and is on sale now from Budgens in Codford as well as through Amazon.co.uk.