Did this watch stop a bullet for soldier?

An appeal has gone out across Shropshire to find the story behind this 'remarkable' pocket watch, which may have saved a soldier's life.

The historic timepiece has what is believed to be a bullet mark in its cover. The glass has been cracked and the clock mechanism broken – but the bullet is believed to have rebounded off the watch cover.

The watch was found dumped in the bottom of a box among a number of donated items taken to the warehouse of the Forces Support charity, in Leominster, on Saturday.

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Staff at the charity have described the watch as the most remarkable item they have ever received.

And they have called on its owner to step forward, as they believe it has been handed over by mistake.

Bill McCance, founder and chief executive of Forces Support, said he believed the watch would have stopped a bullet hitting someone.

Mr McCance said the charity, which provides practical support for the families of servicemen who have been killed in action, had received a number of donations from across south Shropshire recently.

He said he believed visitors from Ludlow with military connections could have been the ones to have handed over the watch at the weekend.

He said: "There is a bullet shot that has gone through the cover, cracked the glass and broken the clock's workings."

He added:?"It is certainly the most talked-about item we have ever had handed in.

"It is most remarkable – it has probably saved someone's life. It isn't the sort of thing we would look to sell, so if the owner doesn't come forward we will probably have it on display in the shop or on the counter.

"We had three cars come from Ludlow on Saturday and we think it could be one of those people who handed the watch in."

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