A BOLTON "war hero" who bragged about his Victoria Cross has been exposed as a liar -- more than 100 years later.

Reader Bob Scowcroft of Heathfield, Harwood, an ex-Navy man who is interested in military history, was intrigued when he read an item from March 7, 1902, in the 100 Years Ago column on this page.

It described how "Bolton hero" Michael McGoohan, late of the Connaught Rangers, was leaving town to fight once more on the front line in the Boer war.

Mr McGoohan apparently told the Bolton Evening News at the time that he had been involved in various battles, including those at Spion Kop and Ladysmith.

He seems to have claimed that he was awarded the VC on December 15, 1899, for carrying Lieut Roberts out of the line of fire when mortally wounded and for the way he succeeded in rescuing Col L G Brooks in a hand to hand encounter with five Boers.

According to the report, "the late Queen Victoria graciously placed the medal on his breast on May 16, 1900."

It ended: "McGoohan has been severely wounded about the head and neck and will carry scars to the end of his life.

"On one occasion he was shot clean through the body three times and through the neck twice."

When he read this, Mr Scowcroft had his doubts and wrote to the Victoria Cross Society in Crowborough, East Sussex.

He was told that, as he had already deduced, Michael McGoohan was not a recipient of the VC.

Mr Brian Best, Editor of a Society publication, thinks he has a possible explanation.

He wrote to Mr Scowcroft as follows: "In the article it is mentioned that he rescued Col Brooks during the battle of Colenso.

"This incident is described by General Redvers Buller thus: 'His colonel being severely wounded, Private Livingstone removed him through a hot fire, and though receiving a bullet in the neck, continued until he had put Colonel Brook under cover, 200 yards back.'

"For this act of bravery, Private G Livingstone was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette 19/4/01)."

Mr Best ends: "Either McGoohan had changed his name or he was indulging in a spot of plagiarism. By the description of his wounds, I think the latter is more likely."

This is a fascinating story. I don't suppose we will ever know what happened to this man with the gift of the blarney.