TWO Blackburn brothers both received the Military Medal for their bravery in the First World War.

Harry and Albert West, who were both sergeants were rewarded for their gallantry and devotion to duty following heavy fighting in 1918 – Albert’s in the last few days of fighting.

Harry, the eldest of the two and one of the few Mons heroes left to tell the tale, was serving with the 5th Dragoon Guards, while Albert served with the Royal Field Artillery.

Harry, a police constable with Blackburn Borough Force, was stationed at Copy Nook, before being called up as a reservist on August 5, 1914 – a fortnight later he was in France and saw much hands-on fighting.

He lived in Walnut Street, Blackburn, and was a member of St Michael’s Church, where he was connected with the young men’s class.

He returned to the police on his return from the war and, it is thought, managed to reach the rank of inspector.

His brother Albert, also of Walnut Street, joined up in April 1915 and served in Egypt and France, where he experienced much heavy fighting.

He was gassed and invalided home in September 1917, but went back to the front the following May.

Born in 1887 and a member of St Michaels’ Church, he was a master plasterer by trade and after coming home from the battlefields of the war, later set up his own business, travelling as far afield as Australia to work.

He died in 1932 aged 45.