YOUNG soldier Private James Smith would have been recognised today as having suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

But rather than being treated for this dreadful condition the brave 26-year-old — who had joined the army to escape a difficult home life — was strapped to a chair and shot dead.

But plans are underway to organise a special awards' ceremony which will be dedicated to this courageous young man here in his home town of Bolton.

This tragic event took place on September 5, 1917, and there were two victims on this day says military historian Charles Sandbach.

For Private Richard Blundell was the soldier ordered to shoot his pal and he spent his life living with the guilt.

On his death bed Richard Blundell is said, by his daughter, to have called out Jimmy's name, so haunted he was by the act he had been forced to commit.

Jimmy had seen the most horrendous of World War One battles at Gallipoli, Ypres and the Somme before being returned to Bolton and spending time at Bolton General Hospital (known, then, as Townley's).

He was returned to the battlefield but suffering trauma from the horrors he had seen and witnessed and the injuries he had sustained Jimmy refused an order. This refusal would sentence him to death.

Although Jimmy's friends and colleagues, forming the firing squad, had been ordered to shoot him all but one deliberately missed. Just one bullet hit the target and that bullet knocked Jimmy to the floor but did not kill him.

One can only imagine the horror this poor young man must have gone through but 48-year-old Mr Sandbach — whose grandmother was Jimmy's niece — says his ancestor was not afraid to die.

he said: "He was a regular soldier when war broke out. He was not conscripted. He was a very brave man."

Jimmy's commanding officer would not kill the young soldier and ordered Richard Blundell to do so.

Richard, a volunteer soldier of the 17th Battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment — a Liverpool dock hand — pulled the trigger, fearing for his own life if he did not.

He would live with the horror of this until he died, aged 97, even, as an old man, visiting the spot where Jimmy was buried. He spent hours in the cemetery.

"There were two victims that day, both Jimmy who lost his life and Richard who had to live with what he was forced to do," added Mr Sandbach, who was born and lived 46 years in Astley Bridge before moving to Blackpool.

Jimmy was pardoned in 2006 and three years after this he received a full military service in Bolton thanks to the persistence of Mr Sandbach.

he went on to set up, a year ago an Action Group — PTSD Action — a non-profit charitable organisation.

This group became partners with the registered charity PTSD Resolution which helps provide therapy for the victims of this condition.

Mr Sandbach added: "I did this as a life long ambition and promise to my family in honour of Jimmy.

"PTSD Action has now donated £50,000 in less than a year to the charity and the network of therapists across the UK.

"All of that money has been spent on treatment — with an 80 per cent success rate.

"Our team has also referred countless numbers of veterans for immediate therapy across the UK and we now employ seven full time staff — our objective is to donate over £200,000 in three years."

Now Mr Sandbach plans to organise an awards' ceremony in memory of Jimmy.

This annual ceremony has been endorsed by retired Army officer Lord Ramsbotham and the board of trustees of PTSD Resolution, with further support from other major bodies.

The winners of each category will be received by Lord Ramsbotham at the House of Lords.

"It goes without saying that I want to hold this event in Bolton — both Jimmy's and my home town," added Mr Sandbach.

To support PTSD Resolution go to ptsdresolution.org