TWO authors are hoping somebody in the Forest can help them solve a First World War puzzle.

Mark Awre and Glennis Button are hoping to publish next month a book on the war dead of Awre near Blakeney.

But they are keen to find out more about the life of Wallace (or Wallis) Jones who was killed in action aged 17 in 1917.

Mark and Glennis have managed to find out more about most of the 12 men who are commemorated on the village war memorial.

Nine of the men were killed during the First World War, two in the Second World War and one in 1969 during the Dhofar rebellion in the Middle East state of Oman.

Little is known about Wallace beyond that he was born in 1899 in Taynton, worked as a labourer for the Cadogan farming family and was killed in France.

He had a number of brothers and sisters – William, Florence, George, Daisy, Nellie, Jane and Ada – who survived in adulthood.

Mr Awre said: "We would dearly love to find out more about Wallace and we are hoping that there are descendents of his brothers and sisters who can tell us more.

"We would particularly like to get a picture of him."

The book is due to be published at the end of August and will be called And Love Itself Have Rest which is a line from Lord Byron's poem So No More We'll Go a Roving.

Mr Awre added: "The idea is that when we say 'we shall remember them' on Remembrance Day, people will know more about the men."

Anyone with information can contact Mr Awre on 01594 510263 or [email protected]">[email protected].

A service will be held at the war memorial in Awre on Monday (August 4) at 10pm to mark the start of the First World War.