IT'S just a centimetre wide.

But the bullet which ripped through George Magee's prayer book could have killed him.

"His mum gave it to him," explained his daughter, Carol Jones.

"He had it in his breast pocket, the bullet went through and only just came out the other side. It saved him."

George fought fascists in Spain and earned the Military Medal - but his family don't know why.

Now they're trying to find out more about his incredible life.

"He was quiet, my dad," added Carol. "I think he did his talking with the books he left - giving everyone the chance to see for themselves."

The war hero died earlier this month, almost 50 years after moving to Barnton.

Originally from Liverpool, he fought Franco in Spain before joining the 46th Liverpool Welsh Royal Tank Regiment.

He fought at El Alamein, Tripoli and Anzio during the Second World War, his exploits earning him a spell as a prisoner of war - and a string of medals.

Now Carol is planning to contact defence chiefs in a bid to discover how her dad became a hero.

"I don't know why he got the Military Medal," said Carol. "He wouldn't tell us.

"Sometimes he'd start talking about the war and then just stop."

George, who lived at Oakwood House at the time of his death, never forgot his military roots.

He met up with pals from his regiment once a month and left books filled with photos from his time in service.

The ex-ICI tanker driver liked visiting the scenes of past conflicts too.

"But he couldn't go back to Spain until Franco died," said Carol.

On a trip to Greece he managed to find people who had helped him hide from enemy forces.

And earlier this decade he returned to Anzio, where he placed a wreath and poppies on the graves of dead British soldiers.

"He was very generous," said Kerry, one of three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

"He was happy helping other people. If you were ever stuck, he'd be there."

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