A watch that belonged to a soldier during the First World War has been returned to his family in Kent after 107 years.

It’s thought that Royal Field Artillery gunner George Burke lost his engraved time-piece after he was injured by shrapnel during an Austrian attack in the north east of Italy and taken prisoner in 1918.

More than a century on, the heirloom has been safely handed to George’s grandson, Stephen, who was tracked down by a watch collector from the Netherlands, having purchased it from Germany.

Stephen, 64, who lives in Canterbury, said: “I was absolutely amazed.

“We assumed the watch was either confiscated, or he swapped it in the prisoner of war camp for something.

“My grandfather apparently had a habit of putting his name on everything which is why we are fortunate to have the watch back.

“It's absolutely extraordinary. You just don't expect it.”

The watch had been engraved on the back with George’s name, battery and brigade, reading: R.F.A. 58 Batt 35th Brig G Burke.

After purchasing the watch, the collector quickly discovered details about George which had been uploaded to the Imperial War Museum by Stephen, but there were no details for his family.

“He asked for help on the forum Reddit, and within an hour, two members had tracked me down on a family history site and sent me a message. I made contact and over Christmas he very kindly returned the watch to my family,” Stephen explained.

George joined the RFA in April 1916 and saw action in the Battle of the Somme and the Ypres Salient, a Belgium battlefield.

After being taken prisoner, he was freed and returned to Britain in 1918, dying in January 1979.

Now the watch has been returned, Stephen hopes to get it framed and display it as his home in Mandeville Road.