AN award-winning filmmaker who received worldwide acclaim for his short First World War drama 'The Fronts of War' is returning with a documentary on the Second World War, focusing on his relatives' experiences.

Thomas Gardner, 26, from Windermere, is basing the documentary around his relative George Gardner, who was a Regimental Sergeant Major in The 1st Battalion, The Border Regiment in the Second World War.

He was unfortunately killed serving his country in the Allied Invasion of Sicily in 1943 and is buried at the War Cemetery in Syracuse, Italy.

Thomas said: “I was around 12 or 13 when I first heard about The Border Regiment and my relatives' involvement within it. I have always had a keen interest in history and near enough all of my films have focused on aspects of both The First and Second World Wars.

"My grandma had shown me a book which my grandad had found in a charity shop which detailed the history of the regiment and when I discovered one of my relatives had died in a crucial invasion in 1943, that peaked my interest further. I am going to enjoy learning more about his role within the war and the impact his actions had”.

The filmmaker also had another relative who died during the Second World War. Driver John Edward Gardner RASC was the brother of George and was killed whilst on active service in the UK on April 20 1944.

The untitled documentary is currently in its pre-production stages.