My family is attempting to locate the missing First World War Victory Medal of our great uncle, Private Walter SNOWDEN.

The Victory Medal of Private Walter SNOWDEN of the Lincolnshire Regiment is missing. Can you help?

We are in possession of his British War Medal, but we believe the Victory Medal went to Australia in the 1950’s with his sister, our great auntie Annie (nee Snowden). Walter SNOWDEN had the service number 19316, and was a member of the Lincolnshire Regiment. Walter survived the war but died of his wounds 20 years later at the age of 40. He lived in Sheffield and Epworth in England, possibly other places as well. We would be very happy to learn that the Victory medal is still in family hands. That would be great news especially if it had a lot of sentimental meaning to them. If however the medal is in the hands of a collector / dealer we would be very interested in purchasing the medal. He was only entitled to the standard First World War pair. Both myself and my brother have served in the British Army and this medal is of tremendous importance to us.

A missing photo album from the First World War has been uncovered at the 2015 Batemans Bay Antiques & Collectibles Fair on the south coast of New South Wales.  All available evidence points towards the creator of the souvenier album as being that of Trooper John PEASE , 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment.

The First World War Embarkation Roll of Trooper John Pease from Koorawatha in New South Wales.

Trooper John PEASE was born in Koorawatha, New South Wales.  He enlisted into the AIF and departed for overseas service.  John landed on the Gallipoli peninsula on the 28th August, 1915 just after the August Offensive, but was evacuated due to Diptheria the following month.  He boarded the Hospital Ship ‘Maheno’ on 1st October 1915 bound for Heliopolis.

John PEASE transferred to the 13th Field Company Engineers in March 1916 as a part of the AIF reorganisation and served in France.  However, he was again struck down with a lung condition and was sent to convalesce in the United Kingdom.  Many photos of Scottish nurses appear in the album which lends weight to the possibility of this album belonging to John.

A striking image of an Australian soldier, believed to be Trooper John Pease from Koorawatha, New South Wales. Markings on the photograph indicate it was captured in Cowra, near Koorawatha. Interestingly, the buttons on his great coat bear the British crest.

The historically significant album was displayed for sale by a dealer who had purchased the journal from a collector in Temora.  Whilst the name John PEASE does not appear clearly in the album, a thorough inspection revealed the service number 889 and the name “J. Pe _ _” which is written on the inside cover.  This writing has been covered by a hand written note, possibly written by John himself and the name is barely visible.  The note states “The beginning.  Camp Sydney 1914”.  A check of his service record via the National Archives of Australia showed distinct similarities with the writing in the album and as a result, Medals Gone Missing Administrator considered there was sufficient evidence to purchase the album and conduct an investigation into its author.  It is not clear how the album came to leave John’s family; but should he be confirmed as the author of the album – there is no doubt it will become a very important piece of family history for his descendants.

The inside cover of the missing First World War photo album. A note which is pasted to the cover obscures handwriting which appears to be the service number 889 and the first portion of John’s name.

Whilst inquiries are continuing, an attempt has been made to locate direct descendants of John PEASE via Ancestry.com and it is hoped that this mystery will be solved.

This is the first year that the Eurobodalla Antiques and Collectibles Fair has been held and should this album be confirmed as that of Trooper John PEASE, it will be a wonderful result for event organisers.  Quite often, historic photo albums such as this are broken up and the photos sold individually by militaria dealers.  Especially when the owner/author of the album is not clear.  (Please CLICK HERE to read the story of a First World War German album which was broken up for individual sale by one dealer – a portion of which was saved by Medals Gone Missing).  Medals Gone Missing is very grateful to the wonderful gentleman who recognised the historic value of this particular Great War album and kept it intact.

Medals Gone Missing is very excited about the possible return of this album and is hopeful that confirmation is confirmed with the kind assistance of Ancestry Australia.

Medals Gone Missing Administrator Gary Traynor had the privilege to serve in an “Antiques Roadshow” style role for Foxtel’s – The History Channel – when he joined Sir Tony Robinson’s “Tour of Duty” program.

Gary joined the team of WTFN for the filming of the Bathurst show where he was tasked to interpret many historic military items brought in by the general public for assessment.  Some of these items finished up in the ‘final cut’ which aired on Foxtel in time for ANZAC week 2015.

IMAGE RIGHT:  Medals Gone Missing Administrator Gary Traynor and Sir Tony Robinson return a 1903 pattern waterbottle carrier to Jennifer Derrick.  The waterbottle carrier had been issued to her father, NX23506 Ralph Lindsay HARDEN during the Second World War.  It was located by the Medals Gone Missing team on eBay.

“It was a tremendous privilege to work with the crew from WTFN and Foxtel” said Gary.  “It was a very challenging role which I thoroughly enjoyed”.  In reference to his function as Military Historian, Gary went on to say, “The role certainly put me to the test.  Similar to the program ‘Antiques Roadshow’ – I was tasked to speak about many relics and examples of militaria; virtually anything and everything that was put before me.  I could not preview any of the items which were simply placed in front of me by a member of the public and I was expected to identify and interpret each item with no opportunity for prior research.  I really had to think on my feet”.  In Gary’s opinion, he enjoyed a success rate of around 95% which was very satisfying and he credits his achievement to his 30 years in the militaria industry; as well as his role as Medals Gone Missing Administrator.

IMAGE LEFT:  Medals Gone Missing Administrator Gary Traynor and Sir Tony Robinson on the set of “Tour of Duty”.  Gary was one of the Military Historians selected to act in a role similar to Antiques Roadshow.

Gary was commissioned to travel with the Foxtel team for film shoots in Bathurst, Newcastle, Toowoomba, Darwin and Perth.  However, he also facilitated the return of a First World War medal to a family for the Hahndorf episode.  The British War Medal was posthumously awarded to Angus BOSTON of the 50th Battalion who was tragically killed in action during 1917.  His brother Thomas BOSTON was killed on the same day.  The medal had been missing from the family for over 80 years.

IMAGE RIGHT: Sir Tony ROBINSON returned the missing British War Medal of Private Angus BOSTON to the great nephew of Angus; Andy Boston from Naracoorte in South Australia.  The missing medal had been acquired from an Illawarra man who purchased the medal on eBay.

Apart from his voluntary role with Medals Gone Missing; Gary Traynor is a leading Military Historian in the field of Military Heraldry and Technology.  He has collected items of Australian Military History for over 30 years and as served as an Assistant Curator in Military Heraldry & Technology at the Australian War Memorial.  He has also acted as consultant for a number of television productions; including the adaption for television of Bryce Courtenay’s epic novel “Jessica”.

Gary is available for film consultancy work and valuations of all military items or collections.

The Second World War medals awarded to Thomas Vincent DACEY, Service Number N200111 have been located at the Batemans Bay Post Office.  The Bay Post (local newspaper) has requested assistance in locating the closest next of kin for Thomas who was born on 3 August, 1918 in Murrumburrah, NSW.

Please CLICK HERE to read the full story by The Bay Post.

IMAGE RIGHT:  The Medals Gone Missing listing which details the found war medals of Thomas Vincent DACEY.

Thomas Vincent DACEY enlisted into the Austalian Military Forces on 7 October, 1941.  Locality on Enlistment ARDLETHAN, NSW.  His next of Kin was Ann DACEY.  His date of discharge was 29 January, 1946.  If you are a direct descendant of Thomas Vincent DACEY, please contact the Bay Post Newspaper on telephone 02 4472 6577 (reference Josh Gidney) or the Medals Gone Missing Administrator via this website.

ANZAC Day 2015 will be a very special day for the descendants of William Richmond JUNOR.  Not only because it is the Centenary of the Gallipoli landings.  But owing to a wonderful gesture by two brothers; a shaving kit presented to William on the 25th April, 1918 is now in their hands after being missing for a very long time.

IMAGE RIGHT:  The private purchase shaving kit presented to Private William Richmond JUNOR, a Queensland reinforcement who left Sydney bound for France on 8 May, 1918.

William Richmond JUNOR enlisted into the AIF and was allocated the Service Number: 53345.  According to the First World War Embarkation Roll, he boarded RMS Osterley on 08 May 1918 at Port Sydney.  So when this return took place at the ANZAC Memorial, Hyde Park in Sydney, it was a very appropriate place.

IMAGE LEFT: Senior Historian and Curator of the ANZAC Memorial, Brad Manera was very gracious in allowing the return of this piece of kit to take place in this most appropriate venue.  The memorial in Hyde Park Sydney is only a very short distance from where William JUNOR boarded a ship and left Australia’s shores, bound for the Western Front.

Of course, the return of war service medals to the descendants of a veteran is a wonderful thing.  But the return of such pieces which are deeply personal bits of kit, are very special indeed.  After all, campaign medals are awarded generally in peacetime after a man’s service.  Relics such as this shaving kit were carried and used by the soldier whilst on active service.

IMAGE RIGHT: The contents of the shaving kit presented to Private William Richmond JUNOR from Yorklea by F.R.W. Cam on ANZAC Day 1918.  If you are a descendant of F.R.W. Cam, then Medals Gone Missing would like to hear from you.

It was the work of two wonderful people which made this return possible.  Rodger and Bill NEWMAN are two very special men who feel very strongly about the service of our diggers.  In relation to this relic Rodger said, “I got the kit from my brother Bill when he was moving house.  He and his wife had picked it up at an auction many years ago.  It was a fantastic effort all round(in finding the descendants of William Junor)  and I now feel much happier that this item of memorabilia is back where it should be”.

IMAGE LEFT: Rodger Newman (black shirt) officially presents the shaving kit of Private William Richmond JUNOR to this soldier’s great nephew, Doug Junor.  Also present was the original finder of the shaving kit, Bill Newman.  Another JUNOR descendant David Willis (white shirt) accompanied Doug for this historic hand over.

It is not known how this relic was parted from the JUNOR family.  Many relics such as this come onto the commercial market by way of desceased estate sales.

IMAGE RIGHT: Doug Junor, the Great nephew of William Richmond JUNOR holds the First World War shaving kit for the very first time.  It is moments such as these which bring relevance in modern times to events which happened 100 years ago.

It is not known what happened to the service medals of William Richmond JUNOR and it is hoped they are still in the hands of a descendant.  If you have the British War Medal or Victory Medal of Private JUNOR in your possession, we would like to hear from you.

IMAGE LEFT:  Two descendants of Private William Richmond JUNOR at the ANZAC Memorial in March 2015.  Doug Junor and his nephew David Willis were thrilled to have this historically valuable piece back into their family.  Nearly 97 years earlier, their ancestor lined up on the wharves of Sydney prior to his deployment to the Western Front.  It is appropriate that they are standing below the sculptured walls which depict the 1918 battles.

Gary Traynor, the Medals Gone Missing Administrator would like to salute the decency and kindness of brothers Bill and Rodger Newman for returning this relic to the family of William Richmond JUNOR.  In an age dominated by eBay and profiteering, two men have chosen honor over financial gain and it is acts such as this which restore my faith in human nature.  Well done gentlemen.  And I would love to be standing next to Doug Junor this ANZAC Day as he proudly carries the shaving kit of one man who served his country during the Great War.

IMAGE RIGHT: Medals Gone Missing Administrator (far right) with the group that came together to commemorate the service of William Richmond JUNOR.  My heartfelt thanks to the ANZAC Memorial staff and Senior Historian Brad Manera for allowing this relic return to take place in Sydney’s centre piece for commemoration.