A book dedicated to the memory of the three Victoria Cross winners and those from Allerdale who lost their lives in World War One will be officially launched this year.

David King, 71, of Kirkbride, has penned The Pity of War to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme.

His book refers to the three Sons of Cumbria – James Alexander Smith VC of Workington, Abraham Acton VC of Whitehaven and Ned Smith VC DCM of Maryport. The men were all recipients of the Victoria Cross medal for their bravery.

James Alexander Smith was attached to the 2nd Battalion during World War One.

Ned Smith was part of the Lancashire Fusiliers and is believed to have been cheered by a crowd of 6,000 on his return to Maryport.

Abraham Acton was a private in the 2nd Battalion the Border Regiment, but died aged just 21 in 1915.

The book is a collection of poems, sonnets and diary entries with photographs from the conflict.

Mr King was inspired to write the book after discovering Sir Muirhead Bone’s book The Western Front Volume One, which is full of images from World War One.

He has used some of the images to illustrate his book.

Mr King said: “What I wanted to do was relate the photographs and adapt the style of some of the First World War poets and writers.

“All the early poems are about the Somme and leading up to the Somme and I’ve done a latter day observation of what they went through.

“You’ve got these young men in 1914 who joined up for Kitchener, King and country going off thinking it’s going to be a great adventure.

“But they lived in the most appalling conditions and had to deal with constant shelling.

“There was not a parish in Allerdale that didn’t lose anybody and that’s what I believe is the importance of remembering all this.”

A limited number of copies of The Pity of War have been released to coincide with the Somme anniversary, but the book will officially be launched in November.

It will be on sale at a concert at St Mary’s Church, Maryport, tomorrow, organised by Mr King.

Copies can be bought for £5, with profits going to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.