Prayer book saved the life of Grimsby Chum who was attacked with bayonet by German infantryman

TURNING the corner of a First World War trench, Grimsby Chum Alfred Precious came face-to-face with a German infantryman with bayonet fixed.

He lunged with full force at his chest with the bayonet, penetrating the British soldier's uniform.

But miraculously, the blade went through The Prayer Book he kept in his tunic breast pocket and did not touch his skin.

Stunned by the Chum's indestructability, the German froze and was promptly dispatched by Alf.

The true story is remembered nearly 100 years on by his daughter, Peggy Joyce, of Worcester Avenue, Grimsby.

Now 92, she told how The Prayer Book, which had been given to Alf by his wife Lillian when he went to war, had been kept in the family and is now treasured by a great-grandson, Leon Driver, 43, now living in Australia.

Peggy told how her father enlisted in the Grimsby Chums after moving to the town from Crewe.

He became well known as the Freshney Street barber, turning his front room into a salon providing a "sixpenny-all-off".

His granddaughter, Fay Precious, also discovered some treasured postcards sent back to Lillian from the trenches in France, thanks to the Grimsby Telegraph.

When she was looking through the newspaper in search of a kitten, she noted an appeal from a reader who had discovered postcards for Lillian Precious sent in 1916.

They had been among some albums bought at a car boot sale and John Ramsden wanted to return them to the rightful owner.

The appeal appeared in the paper in November 2012.

She said: "It was all thanks to the Telegraph that we got the postcards. They were lovely and he always signed off "from your soldier boy Alf".

"He was a marvellous man. He could turn his hand to anything. He was very well known in Grimsby."

She recalled the trick he played on his grandchildren covering a balloon with shaving foam and pretending to shave it off with a razor.

Little did the children know he used the reverse side of the razor.

Peggy said: "Like thousands of other Grimsby men he joined the Chums all wanting to take their bit.

"He sent postcards as he went to war and sent one from Folkstone as he embarked to go to France."

Alf was 26 years old when he went to war and had been married since 1912. He left behind his wife and daughter Nellie.

The couple later went on to have a total of five children.

Peggy added: "Mum lost her sight and became infirm. He looked after her and his shop. He was also church warden at St Paul's Church, in Corporation Road."

After surviving the First World War, he returned to his barber's shop.

Fay said: "The shop was a playground for us kids. There was the big chair and we used to get to know the regulars.

"I remember the big leather strap. He always smelled of snuff.

"I always remember when I got my tonsils out he came to the hospital in his suit carrying a bottle of Lucozade. He was my hero."

Alfred died in 1973.

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