FAMILIES REUNITE WWI SOLDERS' MEDALS

Medals awarded to a group of Merseyside soldiers following a World War I battle were brought together by three generations of descendants for the first time in almost a century.

A total of 12 Royal Field Artillery soldiers from D Battery of the 276th (West Lancs) Brigade were recognised for their brave actions on November 30, 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai in France.

At the headquarters of the Royal Artillery 208 battery in Aigburth this week his medal was brought up from the Royal Artillery Museum, along with four others brought by relatives of fellow members of the battery.

They included a Distinguished Conduct Medal awarded to Sgt Edward Thornley from West Derby and Military Medals awarded to Gnr Frederick Backhouse, Bdr Joseph Pinnington and Gnr Reginald Evans.

The emotional event came about after three Wirral families got in touch as a result of an Armistice Day event at Calday, where the VC was paraded last November.

Afterwards Pat Metcalfe said: “We felt very much our fathers and grandfathers must have got on, because we all get on so well and all feel at ease with each other, which is great.

“It’s been really emotional.”

To read the complete article, see:
Medals of Mersey war heroes brought together for first time in almost a century (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/medals-awarded-mersey-world-war-8494375)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
FAMILIES TO REUNITE WWI SOLDERS' MEDALS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n01a21.html)

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