AN Australian man is attempting to return home World War One medals won by a young East Lancashire soldier who died in battle 100 years ago.

Research undertaken by Doug Payne from New South Wales, who is seeking to repatriate his late father's medal collection, has revealed both the 1914-15 Star and Victory medal belonged to a Nelson soldier, Eric Jackson.

Doug is trying to return war medals from his father’s collection to descendants of the original recipients and is seeking to find Mr Jackson's family.

Eric Jackson served with the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery ‘B’ battery 104th Brigade and died in Flanders on May 21, 1916, aged 23.

Doug Payne, said: "My dad fought for Australia in the 48th Battalion but I don't know how the medals came to be in his possession, other than the thought that he wished to preserve these medals and the memories of their former owners for posterity.

"It seems fitting as we near 100 years after the war that some effort is made to acknowledge their sacrifice.

"Eric’s history has been collated in an effort to provide a link to descendants and return his medals, as well as providing a person behind the name, as a son, brother and nephew.

"He was killed in action and buried Services French Military Cemetery at Maroeuil having served one year and 228 days.

"His war records indicate that his possessions should be sent to, Mr Tom P Jackson, 34 Sheridan Street, Nelson, Lancashire."

In the 1911 census he is listed as head of the household with his two brothers living at 64 Every Street, Nelson, Wilfred,17, and Tom,15, and sister Cecily aged one, as well as his widowed aunt, Betsy Robertshaw, 57.

The boys were listed as ‘cloth weavers’.

As no parents’ details were noted, the research followed that of his two brothers. Not a lot was found of Wilfred, but his brother Tom had a clear line of research.

It was found Tom Priestly Jackson, 21, married Selina Leeming,19, in 1917.

Anyone who wishes to contact Mr Payne about the medals can do so via The Lancashire Telegraph by emailing chris.gee@newsquest.co.uk.