THE story of murdered 20-year-old Gertrude Canning is just one of many fascinating tales to be displayed at a Second World War exhibition.

The exhibition, at Forge Mill Needle Museum throughout March and April, is being organised by Redditch Local History Society.

It will feature all aspects of Redditch during the Second World War as well as stories like the one about Gertrude.

In July 1942 a young Irish girl, dressed in a Women's Royal Naval Service uniform, was in Inveraray in Scotland posting a letter to her family back in Ireland.

Two days later when the letter arrived, Gertrude was the subject of a missing person’s investigation.

Three days after that she was found dead, having been shot four times.

Last year family members Liam, Tommy and Joe Canning, travelled to Scotland to pay their respects to their aunt.

They wanted to find out more about her time after she left Ireland and after discovering she worked for a period in Redditch called the Redditch Local History Society.

Anthony Green, from the society, said: “From the information the family was able to give us, we concluded that the hotel she worked in was the Foxlydiate Hotel.

“As part of our preparation for our exhibition, a young history graduate, Dan Hume, was able to pinpoint an article in the Redditch Indicator for July 18 1942 which repeated the story of her death in Scotland.

“It added that she became a barmaid at the Foxlydiate Hotel after leaving a hotel in Shropshire and that she was a popular member of staff who was responsible and quiet in nature and not known to have a single enemy."

Mr Green added: “It is quite possible that there is someone reading this who remembers Gertrude, knows of her or may even have a photograph.

“The family is anxious to find out all they can so if anyone has any information, please get in touch.”

For more details about the Second World War exhibition exhibition or for anyone who has information, call 61434 or 404365 or e-mail contact@redditchhistory.org.uk.