A FORMER journalist has signed a deal that will see his latest novel published in paperback worldwide.

Andrew Leatham penned The Last Casualty, which tells the story of a woman who discovers her great-grandfather was shot during the Battle of Passchendaele — which took place 100 years ago this year — and embarks on a quest to find out more, not realising the can of worms it will open.

Former Bolton Evening News reporter Mr Leatham, who lives in Belmont, said: “I have long been fascinated by military history, particularly that of the First World War.

“The patriotic fervour that caused such a rush to the colours. The thousands of men who lied about their age, my grandfather among them, to go and do their bit.

“And ultimately the effect the horror of trench warfare would have on soldiers, many of whom were little more than boys.

“It’s something I’ve thought about for years and finally I turned it into a novel, but one which tells the story largely from the point of view of two generations on from the one that fought and died.”

Until last week, The Last Casualty was only available for download as an e-book, but now Mr Leatham has signed a contract for it to be available in paperback around the globe.

He added: “A lot of people who have read my book tell me they think it would make a great television drama.”

The central female character in the book joins the Shot At Dawn pressure group – which achieved posthumous pardons for the 306 British soldiers executed for cowardice and desertion in First World War.

Among those executed by their comrades at dawn was Private Jimmy Smith, born in Bolton in 1891. His best friend Richard Blundell pulled the trigger and the dramatic new fictional book has echoes of Private Smith’s massively moving story.

The Last Casualty is available either to download or in paperback from amazon.co.uk