AUTHOR and historian Tony Davies is seeking diaries, letters and photographs from the First World War period linked to Knutsford.

Tony is asking for information from the years 1914 to 1922 for a dissertation he is writing as part of his MA on the First World War at Wolverhampton University.

The information will also be used in Tony’s next book, Knutsford in the Great War, which he is hoping will be out in March or April next year.

Tony is also a First World War historical interpreter, and visits high school in the role of a recruiting sergeant of 1914, wearing uniform from the period.

He said: “I am looking for photos, letters and diaries from 1914 to 1922, in particular diaries telling what life was like on the Home Front in Knutsford and people’s experiences.”

Tony will return any items which people loan to him, and if people with information live in the local area he is happy to visit their home if they prefer.

Tony added: “I first became interested in the First World War when I was about nine years old, and I read a letter that had been written by a 17-year-old lad to his sweetheart, who was at that time a scullery maid.

“The lad had enlisted in the army in 1915 at the age of 16, despite being too young to do so, and took part in some of the bloodiest battles of that war, Ypres, the Somme offensive of 1916 and Passchendaele.”

Tony has written four books, The Tabley Lads Who Never Came Home, The Great Budworth Lads Who Never Came Home, The Knutsford Lads Who Never Came Home and Rhys’ War.

He is working on a book entitled The Altrincham Lads Who Never Came Home.

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Tony is a retired policeman, who subsequently went on to work with the United Nations in some of the most war-torn countries of the world. His wealth of knowledge and passion for history led him into interactive history talks.

If anyone has any photos, letters or diaries they can email Tony at tony@tonydavies.me or call him on 07824 668961.