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.
