THE story of the Forest's very own Lord Haw-Haw has been revealed in a new book.

In 'Backward Glances', recounting experiences in the Forest of Dean from 1920 to 1950, Dr Daphne Pearson uncovers the story of the farmer Benson Railton Freeman.

Freeman, who bought an estate on St Briavels Common in 1931, was an extremist who joined the British Union of Facists.

His military experience in the 1920s meant he was recalled to the RAF becoming a flying instructor. But in May 1940 he was shot down, crash landing in Germany and being captured by German soldiers.

As the book recounts: "When Freeman's political views became known to the Germans he was taken to Frankfurt and recruited by German radio to assist Lord Haw-Haw after volunteering his services in the fight against Bolshevism.

"None of this was known to people in the Forest at the time and neighbours continued to befriend his wife. Various local people and those manning the search light batteries saw German spotter planes briefly circling the area on various occasions and it is probable that they were looking for the Royal Naval propellant factory at Caerwent.

"Freeman then joined the Waffen SS receiving a salary of 200 marks a week and living under the name of Royston and vetting propaganda prepared for the British armed forces."

At the end of April 1945 Freeman surrendered, was found guilty of treason and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was the headline story in the Daily Mail and as an Englishman born in England and a convicted traitor, he was lucky to avoid execution. Lord Haw-Haw was hanged.

As a twist in the story, Freeman's car, a white drop head Chrysler Coupe, was recovered from his garage in St Briavels. The local boys who came with the mechanic found the car radio didn't work. It turned out to be a short-wave radio: "Presumably used for contact by Freeman just before the war" and presumably also used to contact the spotter planes trying to locate the well-disguised armaments factory at Caerwent.

Backward Glances will be launched on December 3 at Forest Hills Golf Club near Coleford. Many of those who contributed their memories of life in the Forest between 1920 and 1950 will be there. Baroness Jan Royall will give a short address, there will be a Christmas gift stall and home-made cakes stall and all money raised from the book will go to Age Concern.