A heroic Whitton sergeant who ran away aged 17 to fight fascism in the Spanish Civil War will have his story told at Twickenham Museum.

Sergeant Julian Waring Reid's job, as a target spotter for the anti tank regiment, put him in the thick of the action, but he never got wounded.

This luck was put down to his lucky carriage clock, which he carried with him everywhere and hand painted with the places he had been.

In January 1946, four days before he was due to return home, he forgot his lucky clock and was killed by a freight train on a railway crossing in Germany. He was 27 years old.

Curator Ed Harris said: "He was a local character, it's going to be great to include this extraordinary story."

Sergeant Waring-Reid's nephews, James and Peter Rand, handed over the clock, his medals, and other memorabilia to the museum on March 29.

"These two brother have been very gracious in allowing us to look after these artifacts," added Mr Harris.

"What's more, we heard the clock start ticking, and it hadn't worked for a long time."

Sergeant Waring-Reid survived Dunkirk, North Africa, and was amongst the first on shore during the D-Day landings after which he helped liberate Holland and Denmark, and capture Germany.

James Rand visited his grave in Munich for the first time last year, in time for his uncle's 99th birthday.

Peter Rand said: "Coincidently, some years ago, a spiritualist told my brother James that my Uncle had been in touch and had asked that his clock should be passed to a museum, so it does appear that he has finally got his wish."

It's hoped this dedicated display will commemorate his achievements for his centenary birthday.