Missing Medals

I am searching for my father's missing First World War medals which consist of the Military Medal, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His name is Vernon Albert BONE and his service number was 907. According to the First World War Embarkation Roll, he left Australia as a reinforcement for the 3rd Light Horse Regiment; so his 1914-1915 Star may have this particular unit engraved into it. However, he transferred to the 3rd Battery of the 1st Division, Light Trench Mortar Battery and was serving in this unit when he was awarded the Military Medal. I fully understand that these medals would be cherished by a collector, however I would dearly love to have my father's medals returned to me. My father did not settle back into our family after the war, which is why I have no idea where the missing medals are. I would be most grateful for your help in recovering these missing medals.

I am searching for the missing First World War medals of my great grandfather Lieutenant Colonel Valentine Kingston BIRCH who served in the British Army. Valentine served in India before the First World War 1837-1891 Indian General Service Medal. Valentine Kingston BIRCH joined very early in 1914 and as a result, he was awarded the 1914 Star, commonly referred to as the 'Mons Star'. During the Great War he was awarded the DSO (Distinguished Service Order) with bar and also the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The medals were last seen in my family around 1965 but we have no idea where they are now. As you can appreciate, these medals are very valuable. However they are extremely dear to my family and we would appreciate to have them returned. If they are in the hands of a collector or museum who wish to retain the medals, we would be most grateful just to know their whereabouts and that they are safe. Yours gratefully, Kathy KNOTT (Tasmania, Australia).

I am searching for the missing Second World War medals of my late father, Kenneth Albert LOWE. The missing war medals consist of the 1939-1945 Star, Pacific Star, 1939-1945 War Medal and the 1939-1945 Australia Service Medal. He was born on the 15th of January, 1920 at Stawell in Victoria. According to the World War Two Nominal Roll, my father enlisted into the AIF on the 14th October, 1942 and discharged on the 24th of May, 1946. The missing medals were last known to be at East Burwood in Victoria approximatley around 1972. Kenneth Albert LOWE is known to have served in New Guinea, Borneo and Morotai (which was part of the Dutch East Indies). Posting on discharge was the 2/105 Australian Workshop Platoon. Any assistance in helping my family to recover these missing medals would be greatly appreciated.

The descendants of John CRICHTON are attempting to locate the missing Memorial Plaque (colloquially known as a 'Death Plaque' and a 'Dead Man's Penny'). Private John CRICHTON landed at Gallipoli on 22nd August, 1915 as a member of 'A' Company of the 18th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (AIF). In March 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Pioneers and was killed on 16 December that year, on the Somme. His family have his medals which consist of the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. They also have in their possession his Rising Sun collar badges, "Australia" shoulder badges, dogtag, the bible his mother gave him before he left Australia and other items. The only thing missing is the Memorial Plaque. Noble Numismatics sold it in good faith in 2010 to a buyer who has since on sold it. Nobles have helped us in trying to trace it but to no avail. We would like to recover the plaque and are prepared to reimburse the current owner.

Medals Gone Missing has been contacted by a 91 year old gentleman by the name of John PETHEBRIDGE. It was indicated that his brother, Stoker Charles Alexander PETHEBRIDGE was a Prisoner Of War to the Japanese after the loss of the Australian cruiser, HMAS Perth. On the 12 September, 1944 his brother was aboard a Japanese transport vessel which was sunk by an American submarine. As a result of saving multiple lives, his brother Charles was awarded the Albert Medal. His citation reads as follows:- 1944 12 September 1944 Stoker 2nd Class Charles Pethebridge RANR, Australian prisoner of war on board the Japanese SS Rakuyo Maru, carrying 1317 Australian and British POWs from Singapore, it is believed to Formosa. Sailing in convoy, torpedoed and sunk by US submarine Sealion II in the South China Sea on 12 September 1944 (not the 22nd as listed in some sources). Some 1159 POWs were lost, the few survivors being picked up by the Japanese and by the returning US submarines, including 54 by USS Sealion II. Stoker Pethebridge saved the lives of other POWs in the sea at the eventual cost of his own. Posthumously awarded Albert Medal, gazetted 17 July 1945. The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following Award: Albert Medal in Bronze (Posthumous). Stoker Second Class Charles Alexander PETHEBRIDGE, R.A.N.R., W.2164. For gallantry in saving life at sea at the cost of his own. When the ship on which he was a passenger was torpedoed, Stoker Pethebridge got away with twenty others on a raft. During the ordeal which followed Pethebridge left this raft on several occasions, without a life‑belt, to go to the help of those who through physical weaknesses could not pre­vent themselves from slipping into the sea. The strain of this merciful work upon himself was such that he could not carry on, and during the night which followed the sinking of the ship, he himself disappeared. His citation is listed in the Naval History Homepage. According to a family friend (Elizabeth MOIR) the Albert Medal belonging to Charles Alexander PETHEBRIDGE is missing. Obviously, John PETHEBRIDGE would like to know where this medal is located. If anybody has any knowledge of the whereabouts of the missing Albert Medal, could they please contact the Medals Gone Missing Administrator.

My family is searching for the missing war medals, awarded to James Edward WILSON who served in both the Boer War (South Africa War) and the Great War of 1914-1918. James was awarded the Military Cross, the Queen's South Africa Medal and the King's South Africa Medal, the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The Boer War Nominal Roll indicates that James served with the 2nd Mounted Rifles Contingent under the service number 282 and was slightly wounded at Modderfontein on the 24/01/1900. He was invalided out of the army and arrived home on the 05/06/1901. The First World War Embarkation Roll indicates that during the First World War, James Edward WILSON boarded HMAT Medic (A7) at port Fremantle on the 2nd November, 1914 as a Sergeant with the 3 Field Artillery Brigade. He was promoted through the ranks and was a commissioned officer when he was awarded the Military Cross. James is the grandfather of my wife. Any information of the whereabouts of these medals would be appreciated.

My family is searching for the missing war medals, awarded to James Edward WILSON who served in both the Boer War (South Africa War) and the Great War of 1914-1918. James was awarded the Military Cross, the Queen's South Africa Medal and the King's South Africa Medal, the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The Boer War Nominal Roll indicates that James served with the 2nd Mounted Rifles Contingent under the service number 282 and was slightly wounded at Modderfontein on the 24/01/1900. He was invalided out of the army and arrived home on the 05/06/1901. The First World War Embarkation Roll indicates that during the First World War, James Edward WILSON boarded HMAT Medic (A7) at port Fremantle on the 2nd November, 1914 as a Sergeant with the 3 Field Artillery Brigade. He was promoted through the ranks and was a commissioned officer when he was awarded the Military Cross. James is the grandfather of my wife. Any information of the whereabouts of these medals would be appreciated.

I am searching for the missing DFM (Distinguished Flying Medal) awarded to George Gerard BOOTH who served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. The Distinguished Flying Medal was awarded to George sometime in 1944 or 1945. Unfortunately, this missing war medal has not been seen for some time. If you know of the whereabouts of this medal awarded to George Gerard BOOTH my family would very much appreciate it if we could somehow have it returned to us.

The descendants of Thomas STEPHENS (real name Thomas SPURR) are seeking the missing First World War service medals of this soldier. He was the son of Mrs R. Stubbs of South Ossett, Yorkshire. The family of this casualty have provided documentary evidence to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) indicating, that although he chose to sign up and serve as Thomas STEPHENS, his family name was SPURR and he was the son of the late Mr David Spurr and Mrs Susannah Stubbs (formerly Spurr) of South Ossett, Yorkshire. According to the First World War Embarkation Roll, Thomas STEPHENS (SPURR) boarded HMAT Ceramic on the 22nd December, 1914 at Port Melbourne. He landed at Gallipoli but sadly was killed in action on the 30th of April and he along with 8 other soldiers were buried in a corner at Quinn's Post by the Reverand Wray. Any assistance in helping this family to recover his missing war service medals or Memorial Plaque would be greatly appreciated. These missing war medals have also been listed under the name STEPHENS of which Thomas enlisted under.

The descendants of Thomas STEPHENS (real name Thomas SPURR) are seeking the missing First World War service medals of this soldier. He was the son of Mrs R. Stubbs of South Ossett, Yorkshire. The family of this casualty have provided documentary evidence to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) indicating, that although he chose to sign up and serve as Thomas STEPHENS, his family name was SPURR and he was the son of the late Mr David Spurr and Mrs Susannah Stubbs (formerly Spurr) of South Ossett, Yorkshire. According to the First World War Embarkation Roll, Thomas STEPHENS (SPURR) boarded HMAT Ceramic on the 22nd December, 1914 at Port Melbourne. He landed at Gallipoli but sadly was killed in action on the 30th of April and he along with 8 other soldiers were buried in a corner at Quinn's Post by the Reverand Wray. Any assistance in helping this family to recover his missing war service medals or Memorial Plaque would be greatly appreciated.