A YORK project is helping people trace their forgotten ancestors from the First World War to mark the centenary of the Armistice.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Acomb and volunteer group, Family History Researchers, in conjunction with City of York Council, are holding a series of drop-in events for the Find a WW1 Ancestor project.

The 1911 census shows that there were more than 17,000 men living in York who were eligible for enlistment when the 1916 conscription act came into force.

Many people have a distant relative who volunteered or was conscripted and the group’s aim is to help York residents identify them and, where possible, find service records.

The first event took place at Acomb Explore library on Friday, where former Lord Mayor Barbara Boyce was helped to find out more about two First World War veterans in her family, as well as five generations of ancestors.

Among the first residents to test the service was Doreen Gurrey, a former English and drama teacher from Acomb, who managed to find out more about her great-grandfather, who served during the Great War.

He was a Private in the West Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed in action during the Somme offensive - in the Battle of the Transloy Ridges - on October 16, 1916, at the age of 40.

Doreen, 69, had tried to do some research herself, but only had photos of him in his uniform and his grave at Bancourt, in France, as well as one of his wife and five children, dated 1918, when she approached the service.

One of those children, her grandfather, was old enough to sign up and was gassed, but thankfully, not killed.

Thanks to the service, Doreen now has a full family tree and has caught the bug to find out more about other members of her family.

She said: “They were really generous. All the websites charge a fortune, but this is free. It’s a wonderful service.”

More free events will follow at Tang Hall Explore, on November 5 from 10am-2pm, Haxby Explore, on November 7 from 1pm-4.30pm, York Explore, on November 8 from 1.30pm-5pm and Clifton Explore, on November 9 from 2pm-5pm.

To get started on your search, you will need details of your ancestors, which can be entered online at ww1-ancestor-york.org.uk or given to the genealogists at one of the future events.

For more information email enquiries@ww1-ancestor-york.org.uk

As part of the York Remembers commemoration programme, York Explore is hosting a pop-up exhibition of archives from the city during the First World War. This will run during the library sessions. For more information about the York Remembers programme of events go to www.exploreyork.org.uk

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will also be holding a special musical tribute to the brave men and women who lost their lives in the war on November 11, from 7pm.