THE true story of a North-East war hero's Victoria Cross honour has been told in a new book.

Although there is no doubt Captain Richard Annand deserved his medal, Dunkirk - Fight to the Last Man reveals how the details of his citation were incorrect.

Capt Annand, of Durham City, who died age 90 in 2004, was the first person to be given the VC in the Second World War.

The story of how he single-handedly drove back a German bridging party, inflicting more than 20 Germany casualties, before rescuing his injured batman in a wheelbarrow, has become part of Second World War legend.

However, in his latest book, author Hugh Sebag-Montefiore, who interviewed Capt Annand's wife, Shirley, reveals because of his wounds, he was unable to bring his batman back to safety.

Capt Annand's citation reads that he twice repulsed the bridging party using only hand-grenades when his ammunition ran out.

It adds: "When the order to withdraw was received, he withdrew his platoon, but learning on the way back that his batman was wounded and had been left behind, he returned at once to the former position and brought him back in a wheelbarrow, before losing consciousness as the result of wounds."

However, Mr Sebag-Montefiore said the citation underplayed Annand's heroism on the battlefield while spicing up the story of his batman's rescue.

In fact, Captain Annand rushed down to the bridge three times, not twice.

When he returned for his batman, Joseph Hunter, he was so weakened by blood from a shoulder injury he was unable to lift him or the wheelbarrow over a fallen tree.

He returned to headquarters to fetch help, but was so befuddled because of his injury he was unable to provide clear direction before he fainted.

Hunter was eventually captured by the Germans before dying of his injuries in a Dutch hospital.

Mr Sebag-Montefiore said: "Although it's only a tiny detail, one wonders that some of these citations weren't slightly drafted for publicity purposes.

"I think he was a bit embarrassed about the fact that it was wrong. When I spoke to his wife she was saying he wanted to play it all down.

"It's still extremely brave and I don't think I could have done anything like that."