A WOMAN has asked Wee County residents for help to track down family members of a local soldier who died during World War Two.

Ann Judson, 59, is searching for relatives of Tullibody man John Hall, who sadly lost his life in 1944 at the age of 28.

He was killed in action during the Allied invasion of Normandy (D-Day).

Ann’s late mother, Amelia Paterson, planned to marry John before losing him during the war, and now Ann hopes to get in touch with any of his remaining family.

Speaking to the Advertiser, Ann, who lives in Saltburn-by-the-sea, said: “My mum was born in Edinburgh and lived there, and in the war years she worked in the Land Army, and I think she met him there.

“I saw on one site that the Land Army would travel up to around Tullibody.”

Ann began her search for John’s family members following an odd experience on Mother's Day, after being asked about John by her husband.

She said: “This will sound weird, but I was on my own, quite happy, and I just heard this little voice in my head saying: ‘John Hall, Gordon Highlanders.’

Using that information, she managed to discover more about the illusive soldier’s background.

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, John served as a corporal with the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, and died on August 23, 1944.

He was the son of Tullibody couple James and Janet Hall, and is buried at the St Desir War Cemetery in Calvados, France.

The information was gold to Ann, who had learned little about John from her mother when she was alive.

She said: “She didn’t tell me a lot about him really, it was probably too sad for her.”

Since Mother’s Day, Ann has reached out to the Advertiser and the Tullibody History Group (THG) for help.

Incredibly, THG managed to provide her with a picture of John, and are now helping her search for more information.

In the meantime, the Advertiser is asking any Wee County residents who may know of any of John Hall’s relatives to get in touch.

When asked what it would be like to get to meet one of the soldier's family members, Ann said: “It would mean an awful lot because I'd like to say thank you, because he gave his life so others could live theirs.”

She also plans to visit the Tullibody Cenotaph, which has John’s name listed on it, later this year.

If you can help Ann, call us on 01259 230637, or email: editorial@alloaadvertiser.co.uk.