As British soldiers face the frontline in Iraq, preparations are underway in Bradford to commemorate a war hero from another generation.

And the Telegraph & Argus has shed light on the mystery of Eric Anderson's missing Victoria Cross - thanks to a phone call from across the world.

The T&A reported on an appeal by retired headteacher Joan Honey for information about Eric as the 60th anniversary of his death approaches.

Fagley-born stretcher-bearer Eric rescued three fellow soldiers but was shot dead while trying to save a fourth in a bloody battle in Tunisia on April 6, 1943.

Eric was just 27 the day he died - on his first wedding anniversary.

A few months later King George VI presented Eric's widow Irene the Victoria Cross awarded posthumously to commend her husband's courage.

And his memorial is also to be re-erected and rededicated at a special service at Fagley United Reformed Church on Sunday, April 5, at 10am.

Joan Honey, former headteacher of Margaret Macmillan First School in Manningham, is researching Eric's story at the request of her uncle, John Thornton, who went to the same school as the war hero. Mr Thornton crafted a bronze memorial to him as a teenager and took it to show his widow, Irene.

Mrs Honey told the T&A she had taken photographs of the several memorials dedicated to Eric but appealed for information on the whereabouts of his VC medal.

Former Bradford woman Jean Robinson saw the report on the T&A's website and rang from Canada, where she now lives, to say Eric's widow Irene was her mother. Irene, who died in 1986, was married to Eric for just a year before he was killed.

And Jean's sister, Christine Woodhead, pictured, who lives in Silsden, was able to solve the mystery of the missing VC medal .

"My mother gave his medals, including the VC, back to his regiment," she said.

"We never knew Eric. After he died she married our father and she didn't speak much about Eric, but she kept photographs of him which I have today.

"She was only in her twenties when he died and they were married for such a short time. It was terrible for her."

Although she never knew Eric, Christine was always proud of a stone memorial to him built into the walls of Fagley United Reformed Church. When she learned the church was being pulled down Christine was concerned about what would happen to the memorial.

Minister Howard Jones told the T&A he will put the stone up in the vestibule of the new church building in time for the anniversary of Eric's death in April.

And Leo Connolly, headteacher of Thornbury Primary School - which Eric attended when it was Thornbury Boys School - hopes to commemorate the anniversary of Eric's death in an event at the school.

"I'm glad the memorial will still be part of the church, since Eric was from Fagley," said Christine.

"And I'm pleased that so much is being done to remember him. He was a Bradford hero. I'll help in whatever way I can."