An enormous musical instrument carried more than 500 miles on a Second World War "Death March" has been presented to a regimental museum.

Private Joe Brooksbank, from Shildon in County Durham, insisted on taking the piano accordion with him on a tortuous march to Bavaria to keep up the spirits of his fellow prisoners-of-war.

Pt Brooksbank was a member of the 4th Battalion The Green Howards, and was taken prisoner by the Germans after the Battle of Gazala in North Africa on 1 June 1942.

He spent time in two prisoner-of-war camps in Italy before being moved to Stalag XVII A at Kaisersteinbruch on the borders of Austria and Hungary.

During his time there the prisoners were sent parcels, under the auspices of the Red Cross, from the Regiment's headquarters in Richmond. Pt Brooksbank received a piano accordion.

He played it regularly, and when the Russians began to advance from the east on the Germans in 1945 he took it with him as their captors forced them on the 'Death March' back to Bavaria.

He shared the carrying of the heavy instrument with a fellow prisoner, and played it each evening to keep up the spirits of the men.

When the prisoners were eventually relieved by the Americans later in 1945, Pt Brooksbank was told to leave the accordion behind, as there was no room for it.

"I've carried all this bloody way," he replied. "I'm not leaving it behind now."

So he took it home with him, and he resumed his work at the Shildon Wagon Works until his death last year, playing the accordion occasionally, but preferring the piano for his entertainment.

The historic instrument has now been passed on to the Green Howards Regimental Museum in Richmond by his widow, Nora Brooksbank.

Museum curator Lieutenant Colonel Neil McIntosh, said: "This is a remarkable story of determination by Private Brooksbank. The accordion is in remarkably good condition and still playable.

"We are very grateful to Mrs Brooksbank for presenting this instrument, which did so much to bolster the morale of the prisoners on their long march, to the Museum of the Regiment her husband was proud to serve."