WAR hero James Clarke ended up on the streets of London - playing a barrel organ to raise money for his wife and three children.

After being discharged as a warrant officer on May 13, 1919, he worked as a stoker for eight years but lost his job through ill health caused by serious mastoid infection, having been gassed during the war.

His wife was employed in a cotton mill but James could not find work.

In March 1933 he appeared at Marlborough Police Courts, wearing his medals, after being accused of obstructing the footpath on Coventry Street.

After the judge learned of his excellent war record and that he was unemployed and simply trying to earn money to pay for his barrel organ in an honest way, he was discharged on probation.

James attended several Remembrance Services in Winsford as a guest of honour.

Winsford Urban District Council presented him with a gold watch and awarded him £500.

He died on June 16, 1947, aged 54 and was buried with military honours by the Lancashire Fusiliers.

On July 1984 his medals came up for auction at Christie's and were bought for £8,800 by a private collector.

Lord Ashcroft later purchased the medals for considerably more money and they are now on display in the Imperial War Museum as part of the Ashcroft collection.

War historians say the medals are now worth more than quarter of a million pounds.