AN incredible First World War story has been brought to life thanks to a series of photos which shed a whole new light on some of the conflict's unsung heroes.

Retired property manager John de Lucy came across some of his war-hero grandfather's old possessions when he was clearing out an old cupboard.

14 John was stunned to come across his officer grandfather's rare photos from the front Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

14 The glass negatives shed a whole new light on the lives of men serving in the Chinese Labour Corps Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

The glass slides show photo negatives which were were taken during the First World War by his grandfather, Lieutenant William James Hawking, and given to John 40 years ago.

Mailonline reports that Lieutenant Hawkings' family were property traders working in Asia when the war broke out.

Although a neutral nation, China allowed the British Army to hire labourers to assist the war effort - with 100,000 workers making the three-month journey to Britain before being sent on to the front lines.

The labourers handled much of the heavy lifting which kept soldiers busy, freeing up British hands to take up arms directly against the Germans.

Detailed in these rare photos are the lives of the Chinese workers who dug trenches, handled freight and carried munitions on the front lines of the Great War.

These Chinese recruits spent most of the First World War - and its aftermath - living alongside these soldiers, helping to bring about a British victory with barely any recognition for their efforts.

14 As many as 96,000 Chinese labourers came to Europe to serve in the employment of the British Army during World War One Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

14 The men dug trenches, carried munitions and unloaded supplies to free up soldiers' time Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

14 Their job was intense and gruelling, with many workers labouring for 12 hours a day, six days a week Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

14 Lieutenant Hawkings was an officer in charge of a branch of the Chinese Labour Corps Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

Life wasn't easy for them, with the recruits of the Chinese Labour Corps often performing back-breaking labour throughout their 12-hour workdays, six days a week.

They did this as war raged from 1914 to 1918, with many staying on the front until 1921, clearing up bombs and debris across the ravaged French countryside.

14 These rare photos shed an all-new light on the lives of labourers working to win a war they had no personal stake in Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

14 Men in the corps were employed by the French as well as the British, with many staying in France long after the fighting stopped Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

14 Initially, the labourers weren't allowed to serve within 10 miles of the fighting, but this buffer zone narrowed to one mile by the end of the war Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

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These foreign recruits, also recruited by the French, formed their own communities on Europe's battlefields, where they originally weren't supposed to serve closer than 10 miles to the front.

But as they became increasingly crucial to the war effort, Chinese labourers inched ever closer to danger until they were serving just a mile from the action.

14 They never served in combat roles, but many Chinese labourers still died on the other side of the world Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

14 The men of the Labour Corps formed their own communities in Europe, with nearly 100,000 employed by Britain alone Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

Even though the Labour Corps never took part in combat, they suffered at least 2,000 casualties throughout the bloody conflict.

A flu pandemic in 1918 claimed many of these lives, with the bodies of the labourers laid to rest in graveyards on the front lines.

Some historians argue that British and French records of Chinese casualties were wrong, estimating that as many as 20,000 Chinese labourers may have lost their lives as a result of shelling, landmines or flu.

But with their story barely told, not much is known about what the men of the Chinese Labour Corps really went through.

14 Many of the Chinese men would fall victim to flu and other diseases while in Europe's battlefields Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

John, whose officer grandfather oversaw a branch of the Corps, said: "I knew there were some boxes from his time in China but had no idea that they were such an important part of history.

"I read the title 'Chinese Labour Corps' on the box but it meant nothing to me.

"Yet these men were involved in a crucial part of the war effort.

"Many of them paid with their lives and their story has seldom been told.

"It is time to recognise their efforts and you wonder what we would have done without them.

"They helped enormously."

14 Not a great deal is known about what life was really like for the foreign labourers Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

There are now growing calls for these men to be honoured with a permanent memorial to help spread the truth about Chinese involvement in World War One.

Steve Lau, chair of the Ensuring We Remember campaign, told the Daily Express: "There are around 40,000 First World War memorials in the UK but none to the Chinese, who clearly made a significant contribution.

"The Chinese community has given huge support for a memorial. We want to rectify the injustice of the Chinese Labour Corps being forgotten.

"I don't think you can find any other group of 96,000 men who do not have a memorial."

14 Work in the Chinese Labour Corps could be gruelling and intense, with barely any recognition afforded to the men who served alongside our soldiers Credit: North Downs Picture Agency

Previously, we shared another true story from Britain's military history: that of the "Female Tommies" who fought on the front lines and battled for women's rights at home.

We also told the incredible survival tale of the Brit tank crew who were bombarded by Germans for three days before crawling to safety across No-Man's Land.