The tragic story of a Worcestershire soldier accused of desertion and executed by firing squad in the First World War is helping to reunite the scattered members of his family.

Relatives of Sgt John Wall, from Tenbury Wells, have been striving to clear his name since the circumstances of his death were revealed in the early 1990s.

Now their renewed efforts, and those of historians and researchers who believe Sget Wall's death was a grave injustice, are helping to draw together far flung members

of his family.

Three of them - Margaret Harrison, of Henwick Road, St John's, Worcester; Maureen Kendrick, of Tenbury Wells, and Philip Giles, of Craven Arms - met in Worcester this week to try to piece together the details of John (known as Jack), his brother and sisters and their families. A fourth relative, Jill Turner, of Eastbourne, was unable to attend but plans to visit her distant relatives soon.

Jack served as a regular soldier in the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment - rapidly rising through the ranks to sergeant. He was fighting on the French-Belgian border in August 1917 when he and two others were separated from their battalion. They took cover from enemy fire until they felt it was safe to return to their company.

Wall was charged with desertion and despite an exemplary record for discipline, combat and good character, he was found guilty and executed on September 6, 1917 - a few days before his 22nd birthday.

Jack's immediate family never knew about the circumstances of his death. They received a telegram simply saying he was killed in action.

Mrs Harrison, Jack's niece, said: "My mum idolised Jack. Granny was expecting him home when they got the telegram. It broke mum and granny's hearts. There were always two pictures of Jack on the wall at home.

"It was bad enough knowing he was killed in action. I don't know what they'd have done if they had known he was executed."

Mrs Harrison now has a collection of letters and poems written by Jack from the front line, photographs of him proudly wearing his army uniform and newspaper cuttings, including a heartfelt tribute from his girlfriend Harriet Wood, of Ombersley, on the second anniversary of his death. Many of these were saved and cherished by Mrs Harrison's mother Harriet, Jack's sister.

"I could not believe it when I heard he was executed. I think it was wicked to have done it to such a good soldier. I think his name should be cleared. He was innocent and he did save two others."

She went on: "My brother said if he had known what had happened to Jack he would not have joined the Army. He would have been a conscientious objector."

Mr Giles, Jack's great-nephew, said: "He must have been a good soldier or he would not have got

as far as he did in the time. Why did he go back to his company if

he deserted?"

Mrs Kendrick - a cousin who has visited Belgium where Jack

fought, died and is buried - has researched his case and wrote to John Reid, then Armed Forces Minister, in 1998 asking for his name to be cleared.

The Government refused but she remains hopeful. "I was shocked when I heard he had been shot for desertion. I just kept thinking it was the wrong John Wall," said Mrs Kendrick, who came across his case when researching her family history. "I have not given up hope and I would like to see a blanket pardon for all the soldiers who were executed. In the majority of cases they were not to blame.

"When you go out there, you see row upon row upon row of headstones and you keep thinking, 'what a waste'."

British and imperial forces executed 346 men - mainly English - during the First World War. The New Zealand government has exonerated all its soldiers who suffered the same fate and posthumously honoured then with medals for their service.

Mrs Turner, Jack's great-niece, has now taken up the cause and plans to pursue Jack's case with her local MP Nigel Waterson.

"Out of the terrible tragedy of Jack's death, a scattered family has been drawn together by this campaign," she said.