KEIGHLEY'S war historians have hit the small screen with a tale of gallantry and drowning.

Men of Worth Project volunteers have teamed up with Keighley filmmaker Oliver Chapman to make a series of videos about their research into local soldiers.

The first episode, now on YouTube, highlights Military Medal winner Thomas Kennedy who survived the First World War and lived to old age.

Oliver filmed Men of Worth researcher Ian Walkden at locations from Thomas’ past, including St Anne’s Church and the Town Hall Square war memorial.

Ian was even filmed at Stockbridge by the River Aire, where Thomas’ father drowned in 1907 when Thomas was only 12.

The film, which will be soon be followed by more episodes, can be seen on Oliver’s YouTube channel Worth Valley Telly under the title Following The Men Of Worth.

Men of Worth spokesman Andy Wade said the first episode had a similar format to Who Do you Think You Are?, the popular BBC programme following celebrities tracing their ancestors.

He said: “Oliver suggested filming episodes showing the work we do on local people and these could be aired on local TV and online. Naturally, we thought this was a great idea.

“We were approached by a lady at our Somme 100 launch day in Keighley Library about a man called Thomas Kennedy who was her father.

“She told us that he had won the Military Medal in the Great War but didn't know a great deal about his service other than that, nor why he won the gallantry award.”

Oliver was at the library on the same day, so he filmed the Men of Worth volunteers starting the research there and then.

Andy said: “We checked a few online resources including the London Gazette which told us when he was awarded his Military Medal.

“We still don't know what he received it for though as there are no citations for Military Medals available except when the family still has them, or if they had been printed in a local newspaper at the time. Sadly, this one wasn't included.”

The regimental war diary showed that on one occasion Thomas had been had been 'bruised and buried' in the trenches when a shell exploded nearby.

The Men of Worth research was passed to Thomas’ daughter, who also like to trace her father’s Military Medal and 1914-15 Star.

Visit youtube/AeCmUnwRbcw to see the film about Thomas Kennedy.