East Lancashire man's global search for war medals (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire man's global search for war medals

2:19pm Wednesday 16th December 2009 in

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A WORLDWIDE search has been launched to find war medals belonging an East Lancashire man’s grandfather who died more than 50 years ago.

Alan ‘Algy’ Metcalfe, 66, of Park Hill, Barnoldswick, said First World War medals presented to his grandfather, William Henry Metcalfe, were lost after possibly being sold by a member of his family in the past.

The medals are believed to include the 1914-1915 Star, Silver Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Algy, a former Haslingden quarry manager, is now asking for anyone with information on the medals’ whereabouts to come forward.

William, who was better known as Harry, was born at Thorlaby, near Aysgarth in Wensleydale.

He joined the Settle Company of the 10th Battalion, The Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.

A photograph belonging to Algy shows Harry wearing a yellow armband on Settle Cricket field in September of 1914 as a volunteer in Kitchener’s Army.

He can then be seen in another photograph with his wife in 1918 when he was believed to be serving as a driver with the Army Service Corps.

But Algy, who said he began the search for the medals when he retired, does not know his grandfather’s service number.

He said: “My grandfather was one of 100 men who volunteered in Settle.

"Two of my great uncles died in the war but he survived.

“Because he wasn’t killed, it makes it more difficult to find anything out about him from that time.

“My dad, James, is still alive at nearly 90 but he can’t remember too well and things were different back then so his dad didn’t really tell them anything.

“It’s so complicated, like trying to find a needle in a haystack.”

Algy said that before the war his grandfather was a farmer who worked with horses.

He said he returned to the work when he left the Army.

To contact Algy, call 01282 815287.