The war service medals of Driver Basil William GRAY are missing and his family are desperately trying to locate them. The missing medals consist of the First World War British War Medal and Victory Medal.
These missing medals were stolen decades ago, during a burglary in Oyster Bay, Sydney during late 1974 or early 1975. It is hoped that the person responsible pawned or sold the Great War medals, rather than simply throw them away. Now, nearly 50 years later it is hoped the medals are sitting in a collection somewhere with the current owner having no idea of the theft, nor the fact that Basil’s grandchildren are desperately trying to recover them.
The British War Medal and Victory Medal, similar to those missing war medals awarded to 2806 Basil William GRAY. The inscription ‘Dvr B.W. GRAY 7 F.C.E.’ may be impressed on the very edge of these medals. These medals may now be in the hands of an unknown collector. If you have these medals, would you consider kindly selling them back to his family? If so, please contact Medals Gone Missing.
There is nothing remarkable about Basil’s service, other than the fact that this man gave up the luxuries and benefits of civilian life to serve his country. As a driver in the 7th Field Company Engineers, he risked death through enemy artillery bombardments and disease through service abroad. Indeed it appears he contracted malaria in Egypt whilst awaiting embarkation to Europe. So if you are a collector or know of the whereabouts of these missing war medals, you may be kind enough to sell them back to his descendants and put the minds of a country family at rest.
Please contact volunteer Medals Gone Missing Administrator Gary Traynor on 044 969 2401 or through this website if you have any information or can assist in any way.
About gary
Gary Traynor is the volunteer Administrator of the Militaria based website MEDALSGONEMISSING. The aim of this "NOT FOR PROFIT" website is to reunite families, with lost War Medals and other items of militaria. Anything from medals to items of uniform. What Gary refers to as their "lost heritage". He has been actively involved in the Militaria world and researching of Military History for well over 30 years. As a result, Gary also conducts valuations and offers advice on all items of militaria. He has acted as advisor to a number of television and Foxtel productions; including Sir Tony Robinson's "Tour of Duty" series which featured on the History Channel. Gary is a field historian and conducts tours to Gallipoli, The Western Front, Kokoda and many other major battle sites around the world. He was a member of the Australian Army Reserve (UNSWR & 4/3 RNSWR) and served for 23 years with the New South Wales Police Force. He is perhaps the only person who has been employed at the Australian War Memorial in all three capacities .... as a volunteer, part time and full time employee .... starting as a qualified tour guide, working in the public galleries as an Information Assistant and finally Assistant Curator in Military Heraldry & Technology.
Medalsgonemissing is a website that will assist you in locating your family's lost war medals and other awards. If you have an ancestor who served in any of the British Commonwealth Armed Services at any time - and whose medals are lost/stolen or simply missing....then so long as the medals are out there - this site will help you to locate them.
However the site also contains articles of interest in relation to Military History, War Memorials & Uniforms / kit. Please explore our website as there is sure to be something of interest to you.
