A PRODUCTION to commemorate the life of one of Burnley’s war heroes will take place next week.

‘Our Tommy’ looks at the life of Thomas Whitham, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions during the Battle of Ypres, Belgium, in 1917, during the First World War.

The production will be performed by Thomas Whitham Sixth Form students and there will be live music by the Manchester folf band Harp and Monkey.

Private Whitham was 29 when he came under attack from a machine gun during the battle. He managed to work his way from bunker to bunker up and capture it and save the lives of his troops.

The show is at Burnley Mechanics Theatre on Wednesday, September 27.