Last picture of a war hero?

A NEW photograph has emerged of a World War One hero whose remarkable life story seems to have come to an end in Warrington in 1952.
Private Edward Roe, an Irishman, wrote critically acclaimed diaries about his five years on the frontline and now lies in an unmarked and neglected grave at Warrington.
His family in Ireland lost touch with him after the war and know little of his later life, which was spent in Warrington.
His great nephew, Pat Freeman, is trying to piece together a picture of his final years.
Edward Roe’s diaries, written during his time fighting in Northern France, Gallipoli and Mesopotamia were only discovered and published in 2002 – more than 50 years after his death.
Critics believe his first hand accounts of the battles he saw are some of the best available and his original manuscripts are now on permanent display in a museum at Preston Army Barracks and have been edited into a book.
He is believed to have lodged in Gorsey Lane.
Warrington-Worldwide has already published an appeal from his family for information about the forgotten hero but no-one has come forward.
Now Mr Freeman is hoping the new photograph, taken in 1951, may jog someone’s memory.
Edward Roe’s diaries were published as “The Diary of an Old Contemptible: From Mons to Baghdad 1914-1919”, edited by Peter Downham, who discovered them while clearing out old store rooms at Fulwood Barracks almost 10 years ago.
Anyone who has any information about him should contact Pat Freeman at [email protected].
Pictured: Edward Roe photographed on his last visit home to Ireland. He died a year later.