A FIRST World War casualty from York is finally set to appear in the ‘King’s Book of York Heroes’ 103 years after his death, following the intervention of his great great niece.

York Minster is also investigating whether another 16 names should go in the oak-covered book, which weighs an astonishing nine stones and is one of the largest in the world.

The book currently contains the names of 1,475 York servicemen who died in the conflict, and just over 60 are being read out at 11am each day at different locations across the city until next Sunday, the 100th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the conflict.

Katie Awdas, from near Thirsk, said her great great uncle Benjamin Baines, who was born in York in 1883, and later lived in the Leeman Road area and worked at York Carriageworks, served as a private in the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own), 5th Battalion and died on December 27, 1915.

She said he was recognised for his service in ‘Fallen Railwaymen’ records, but for some reason his name never went in the Minster book.

She said she took the matter up with the Minster’s Collections & Learning Team and was "delighted" when she was told he fitted the criteria and his name could go in.

Katie added that she and her husband were going over to Belgium for the Armistice commemoration and planned to visit Benjamin’s grave at Lijssenthoek.

A Minster spokeswoman said: "We’re really pleased that Benjamin Baines’s name is one of two new names that will be added to the King’s Book of York Heroes in time for the Armistice 100 commemorations.

“More than 300 names have been added to the book since it was first presented in 1920. Today the number stands at 1,475.”

She said the Chapter of York had never charged for additions to the book and had actively advertised for relatives researching their family history to get in touch with information that might link their ancestor to the book.

“We are currently investigating 16 new names as a result of information shared by relatives,” she said.

“The story of the King’s Book will continue well beyond Armistice 100.”

She added that the book, which is two feet long and nine inches thick, carried the dedication: "This Book graciously accepted by The King and presented by His Majesty to York Minster has been produced in memory of our glorious dead by Citizens of York as an expression of gratitude and admiration for the Patriotic and Gallant Men of this city who in the various services of the Crown nobly did their duty and fell fighting for the Victory of Freedom gloriously achieved.

“The Volume has in the year 1920 with the Consent of the Dean and Chapter been placed in this Cathedral as a perpetual record and memorial.”

The photographs and obituaries in the book were collated by Mr A Adams of the former Yorkshire Evening Press, and the book was bound by Mr FJ Wells and printed by Mr R Currie, both of the Yorkshire Herald.