The family of a war hero who was the first ever veteran to be treated at Erskine Hospital has discovered the full extent of his story on its 100th anniversary.

Relatives of the very first soldier to be treated at the hospital in 1916 were traced by the veterans charity to mark its centenary.

Now descendants of corporal James Ritson, from Troon, Ayrshire, who survived Gallipoli, are learning more about their grandfather's past.

Erskine Hospital was founded at a public meeting in Glasgow City Chambers on March 29, 1916 under a proposal to establish a hospital in the west of Scotland for amputees wounded in battle.

Sir William's care plan galvanised support across Scottish society and drove the project to convert Erskine House, now Mar Hall Hotel in Renfrewshire, into a hospital.

The first patient was 29-year-old corporal James Ritson of the 1/5th Royal Scots Fusiliers, who suffered 22 wounds at Gallipoli.

After a month of treatment, he recovered and returned home to Troon with an artificial arm fitted.

Commemorations honouring 100 years of care at Erskine have revealed the war hero's story to a new generation of his family.

His son, David Ritson, 89, told STV: "He never mentioned wars. If I wanted to know something I had to ask him. He told me, he told me what they did to them. Put them on the side of the boat ready to tip (them) into the water.

"That's where they put them when they were nearly dead - line them up on the side of the ship and when they think they're dead the just...(pushing motion).

"He got through it. (He had) a lot of wounds - 26 or something like that on the side of his arm."

"My father, I think he had seen to much or done too much but he told me one or two things about what he had done. He didn't go into it to much."

His granddaughter, Jean Harris, said: " I knew him as grandpa and he died a long time ago. I remember his hand, I remember the claw.

"I remember him showing us the stump and playing with it because I asked to see it. That's all I remember about him - he never talked about it.

"I knew he had been in the army. Then we found out he was at Gallipoli and he had been decorated."

Since its formation, Erskine has cared for over 85,000 ex-servicemen and women, and more recently their spouses.

The charity led work in developing prosthetic limbs, many of which were made by workers from the nearby Clydeside shipyards.

The centenary is being marked with a civic reception in Paisley town hall in Renfrewshire on Tuesday where documents including the first admissions book from 1916 on display.

A specially-commissioned book, A Century of Care, is also being released to mark the occasion.

The charity said it tells Erskine's story through staff and patients and captures the development from a hospital to four care homes that provide nursing, respite, palliative and dementia care.

Erskine chief executive lieutenant Colonel Steve Conway said: "I think it is fitting that this year we pay tribute to all those staff and volunteers who have cared for over 85,000 veterans to such a very high standard and also thank all our supporters, past and present, that enable us to continue our work.

"I hope as many people as possible will be able to join us at our events to learn a little more about our history and join us in our celebrations."