IT is a story of triumph, adventure and tragedy worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster.

But the extraordinary tale of Bolton’s brave Fred Walker has remained untold for almost a century — until now.

Historian Charles Sandbach has uncovered moving details of the man who overcame poverty to rub shoulders with the royalty at Oxford University in Edwardian Britain and die a war hero.

Fred was born in 1891. But his proud father, James, could have never in his wildest dreams imagined his future. For the Walkers were poor and, with the industrial revolution in full swing, many of Fred’s peers were lucky to have any kind of schooling at all.

Money was so tight James moved the family 12 miles south of their native Haslingden in 1884, to a small house in Portugal Street, The Haulgh, so he could work as a railway telegraphist based at Manchester Victoria train station.

The job did not pay well, but James, who later moved with his family to Bury Road, Breightmet, was able to scrape together enough funds for Fred and his three siblings to study at Ridgeways Endowed School, in Plodder Lane, Farnworth, before he moved to what is now Canon Slade School.

Historian Mr Sandbach, of Astley Bridge, said: “Fred was a very talented boy. His impoverished parents had little say in his education.

“Back then, Canon Slade was known as the Church Institute School and was created to give the poorest children a place to learn.”

Canon Slade’s current headteacher, Philip Wil-liamson, said: “When it was founded in 1855, there were a dozen pupils who learned in the day.

“Most came in the evening after they had done a day’s work in sometimes atrocious conditions.”

Fred’s ability in the classroom spoke volumes and by the age of 17, he was astounding his peers.

In 1909, the telegraphist’s son accepted a place at Magdalen College, Oxford, after becoming the first pupil in the school’s history to be offered a scholarship.

Canon Slade history tutor John Aldred said: “This was all at a time where social status dictated what a person could achieve. For Fred to overcome that was truly astonishing.”

Two years later, Fred graduated with a degree in maths.

From 1912 onwards, the working-class lad from Breightmet was sharing conversations with a fellow of his college — Edward, Prince of Wales, who was to become King Edward VIII in 1936.

The Prince left Oxford without qualifications, while Fred went on to earn a second degree, this time in physics.

Fred began work as an assistant mathematics master at Coatham Grammar School in Redcar, near Middlesbrough, but his fledgling career was cut short by the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.

Mr Sandbach said: “The war started to take its toll and inevitably Fred was called upon to do his bit.

“He requested a posting to a Lancashire Regiment and he joined the 1/5 Btn (Territorial) The Kings Liverpool Regiment.”

Fred was posted to France arriving on August 4, 1916, as a Second-Lieutenant in the Battle of the Somme.

In the space of a year, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and fought in the Third Battle of Ypres in Belgium — a stand off that would end in tragedy.

Early on the morning of September 20, 1917, the Battle of Menin Road Ridge began.

Fred, another officer and the battalion chaplain, had been detailed to attend an incident. Under heavy fire from German artillery, the three of them made their way along the trench.

There was suddenly a shell burst, which caught Fred and the chaplain full-on.

They were killed outright. Lieutenant Fred Walker was just 26 years-old.

Mr Sandbach said: “This young man demonstrated in his short life that much can be achieved through dedication and work.

“He did it the hard way, coming from such a humble background. In addition to that, he also paid the ultimate price.

“The tragedy here is that Fred had so much to offer. He never had the opportunity to marry, have a family or further his career as a schoolmaster.

A hero in battle, Fred was awarded a British War Medal and a Victory Medal, which Mr Sandbach was able to buy earlier this year.

Plans are now under way for a permanent memorial to Fred at Canon Slade School in the hope that present-day students will be inspired by his triumph over adversity.

dale.haslam@ theboltonnews.co.uk