FREDA Hargreaves was just 16 when she first heard the story of tragic Bolton soldier James Smith.

Little did she know that decades later she would visit his grave in Belgium and help piece together the story of a young man shot at dawn for desertion.

In 1947, Mrs Hargreaves, from Great Lever, married Jack, whose mother was the cousin of James Smith, the focus of a play, called Early One Morning, by Bolton playwright Les Smith.

He was commissioned by the Octagon Theatre to write the piece to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Armistice in 1998 and it has been revived to mark 100 years since the start of World War One.

On Thursday, 85-year-old Mrs Hargreaves and members of her family returned to the theatre to watch the opening night of the moving and powerful play, which she described as “excellent”.

She and her late husband, who fought in World War Two and died three years ago at the age of 90, and playwright Mr Smith visited Pte Smith’s grave at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery.

Mother-of-two Mrs Hargreaves, who has six grandchildren and one great-grandchild, said: “Jack told me all about James Smith.

“When I went to his grave, that was moving. I took a small rose with me, from Bolton Market. Knowing more about it, me being older, I realise that James Smith had just given up completely.

“There was nothing left to live for.

“If he did not get shot by the enemy, he would get shot by his own men. He didn’t defend himself at all at the court martial.”

A total of 307 British soldiers were shot at dawn for desertion during the war and it was not until 2006 they were granted a pardon that recognised them to be as much victims of war as those who died in battle.

Mrs Hargreaves also met the family of Pte Richard Blundell, from Liverpool, the man responsible for firing the shot which killed 26-year-old Pte Smith.

She said: “I met his daughter six years ago. It was Blundell who finally put the bullet into him.

“She must’ve been my age then.

“She said they had never known at all.

“ I didn’t like to ask her too many questions because I felt I was treading on unknown ground.

“I didn’t want to put any blame on her father.

“He told them on his death bed. Up until then, her and her brother didn’t know this story.

“He lived until his 90s and it stayed with him all his life. ”

  • Early One Morning is on at the Octagon Theatre until November 1. Read our review here.