The family of a Largs man who served on the Arctic Convoys - one of the most feared shipping lanes in the world - returned to Largs for Remembrance.

Thomas Davis, who died in 1967, was trained as a baker in Largs and at the age of 20 years joined the Merchant Navy on the 26th August 1938.

He was discharged on the 27th September 1945 and never spoke about the years between.

While working on the family tree, Thomas's son, Alfred was given some family papers after his mother Isabella's death, and discovered Thomas's Certificate of Discharge, and on investigation, he asked the question if he had been awarded any medals.

Alfred, who lives in Manchester, said: "Dad had been awarded five medals but had never claimed them. We have now got those five medals, and 71 years later, we brought them up to Largs to show his two brothers and 2 sisters and the rest of our family in Largs and near by."

"He had joined the merchant navy in 1938 but had never told anybody. Thomas had a war medal for being on the Arctic Convoys, where he worked in the galley as a baker for the merchant navy. There were three ships from front to back, and Thomas was in the middle ship. It was the front and back ships which were hit, which was apparently quite unusual.

"He was also awarded the Atlantic Star, and he was also awarded the Africa Star, plus the African Clasp.

"Thomas was in Algiers in 1942, which earns him the Africa star and the clasp, as it was so dangerous back then. He was also involved in the Italy campaign, and in Malta in August 1943. He was in a few hell-holes!"

After the war, Thomas spent time moving all around the UK as a baker, working in Liverpool, where Alfred was born, and he has happy memories of coming to Largs every year to see his grandparents. Thomas was only 49 when he passed away, but his reluctance to talk about the tough times he experienced during the war, meant that the medal awards have been secret to this year, and have now been uncovered thanks to some detective work from son Alfred.

Alfred's brother, Thomas, who lives in Milton Keynes, was also involved and came up with the family. Alfred's Uncle Arthur, who lives in Largs, featured in the Largs and Millport News last year after attending Fairlie Community Association's research project presentation into Fairlie soldiers who fought in the First World War - leading to a surprise discovery during the presentation.

At the start of a North Ayrshire Family History lecture at Largs Library, a slide to illustrate a discharge paper of a serving soldier from the Great War was displayed on the projector screen.

Arthur Davis, 82, of Largs, sitting in the front row, interrupted to say: “Gosh, that’s my dad!’ Alfred Davis” — leading to astonishment in Largs Library - he was a sergeant major in the war, and in the Royal Scots Fusiliers.