Lost medals awarded to Ashton soldier presented to family in Australia

Long lost medals awarded to an Ashton soldier more than a century ago will soon be the treasured possessions of his grandson and family in Australia.

Pte Frederick Wallwork who served in the First World War with the Manchester Regiment received the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Mons Star.

The first two came to light when St James’ Church historian Walt Reid was searching for a  missing Territorial Army medal belonging to his father who was a friend of Freddie. The star is still missing but Walt has managed to find a replica to complete the set.

He knew that Freddie had a grandson called Derek who was a pupil at Stamford Boys School in the 1950s or 1960s Following a spot of detective work and an appeal through local Facebook groups for any relatives to come forward, he managed to contact Freddie’s granddaughter Doreen Powers.

With the family’s permission, the medals were displayed at St James’ on Remembrance Sunday. During the morning service churchwarden Tina Howarth officially returned the medals to Doreen, who is planning to send them on to Derek, her brother who emigrated to Australia 40 years ago and settled just outside Brisbane. Derek will wear the medals with pride on Anzac Day, the Australian remembrance day in April.

Doreen, 70, admitted the news from Walt was a bolt out of the blue. Like many men of his generation who fought in the war, her grandfather who died in 1972 “never spoke” of his experiences.

Long lost medals awarded to an Ashton soldier more than a century ago will soon be the treasured possessions of his grandson and family in Australia.

Pte Frederick Wallwork who served in the First World War with the Manchester Regiment received the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Mons Star.

The first two came to light when St James’ Church historian Walt Reid was searching for a  missing Territorial Army medal belonging to his father who was a friend of Freddie. The star is still missing but Walt has managed to find a replica to complete the set.

He knew that Freddie had a grandson called Derek who was a pupil at Stamford Boys School in the 1950s or 1960s Following a spot of detective work and an appeal through local Facebook groups for any relatives to come forward, he managed to contact Freddie’s granddaughter Doreen Powers.

With the family’s permission, the medals were displayed at St James’ on Remembrance Sunday. During the morning service churchwarden Tina Howarth officially returned the medals to Doreen, who is planning to send them on to Derek, her brother who emigrated to Australia 40 years ago and settled just outside Brisbane. Derek will wear the medals with pride on Anzac Day, the Australian remembrance day in April.

Doreen, 70, admitted the news from Walt was a bolt out of the blue. Like many men of his generation who fought in the war, her grandfather who died in 1972 “never spoke” of his experiences.