The harrowing tale of four brothers who were killed within a space of 18 months during World War I has been unearthed by a local historian.

Local historian, Brian Roote, discovered the story of four brothers from Brocklesby Road, South Norwood, William, John Joseph, Andrew and Thomas Henry, sons of John Joseph Bell and Beatrice Bell, who were all to die fighting for their country within a year-and-a-half of each other.

The devastating loss, which echoes the plot of the film Saving Private Ryan, is not unique in Croydon. Three years ago Mr Roote discovered another Croydon family who lost four of their sons during WWI in a two-and-a half year period.

Mr Roote, from Caterham, found that the first brother to give his life was William who died on his 18th birthday on May 31, 1916, after he enlisted into the Royal Navy in April 1915 and later served on HMS Indefatigable, which was sunk in the battle of Jutland.

Just six weeks later, John Joseph was killed in France on July 6, 1916 aged 27, he had been in the Mecantile Marines for a few years before enlisting in 1915 and had just being promoted to Lieutenant Sergeant a few months before his death. He left behind his wife Annie Harriet Gooding and daughter Beatrice, who was born in 1916.

In 1917 Andrew was killed just two weeks before his 18th birthday on August 4, 1917, when he was serving on the SS Cairnstrath and was torpedoed in the Bay of Biscay.

The last tragedy in this sad story was Thomas Henry, who was originally a clerk but enlisted in June 1910 where he served in France from 1914. He was wounded in July 1916, after recovering he was wounded again at Inverness Copse, Ypres, on September 20 1917. He died of these wounds on October 17, 1917 at the age of 25.

After losing his first wife Beatrice at just 39 years old in 1906, the death of his four sons came as a huge blow to Telegraphist Mr Bell,who was left with only two daughters and his new wife Elizabeth Brown, whom he married in 1908.

The brother’s memorial can be found at the Croydon Roll of Honour and St Luke’s Church, Woodside.