THE godson of a First World War hero has finally come face-to-face with proof of the long-dead soldier’s bravery under fire.

Wilfrid Edwards was just 24 when he won the Victoria Cross during an action in which he took more than 30 prisoners at Langemarck, Belgium, in 1917.

And his godson Alvin Turner saw the medal for the first time when he visited the Castle Museum in York and took along his own related items.

Wilfrid became close friends with Alvin’s grandfather during his wartime service and was a private in the 7th Battalion, the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry when he won Britain’s highest award for gallantry.

After all his company officers had been lost and despite heavy machine gun and rifle fire, he charged at a strong concrete fort.

Despite the personal risk he bombed through the loopholes, surmounted the fort and waved his company forward while taking three officers and 30 other ranks prisoners.

His VC was later donated to the Castle Museum at the suggestion of Alvin’s mother Mollie Turner – who was also Wilfrid’s god-daughter.

Now Alvin, from Thirsk, has been able to pass on more details to museum curators to help tell a more complete story of Wilfred’s life.

“My mother took great care of her father’s and Wilfrid’s First World War belongings,” he said.

“After her death, I inherited a lot of the pieces that she had kept and was under strict instructions to look after them.”

Curator Andrew Woods said: “Some of the pieces that Alvin brought are absolutely exceptional. In particular, the Victoria Cross medal ribbon, which is something that I have never seen before.

“What is particularly amazing is that Alvin was able to bring a photograph of Wilfrid wearing the medal ribbon, which helps to bring it to life.

“He also brought a whistle which had belonged to Wilfrid during the First World War. It is amazing to think that he may have been wearing it during his incredibly brave actions which led to his Victoria Cross. It is so rare to have that kind of connection to acts of gallantry during the First World War.”

Happily Wilfrid survived the war and was demobbed in 1919, by which time he had risen to the rank of second lieutenant. However he re-enlisted for the Second World War, during which he rose to the rank of major.

He later lived in Leeds, working for the gas department, and he died in 1972 at the age of 77.