Metal detectorist reunites navy medic’s family with First World War medal after unearthing it in his back garden
- Mark Williams, 71, discovered the 105-year-old medal in his garden in Hampshire
- With help of genealogist, he found the medal belonged to William George Waters
- Mr Waters, who eventually became chief medic in the Royal Navy, joined in 1899
- The medal was reunited with his grandson over 100 years after it was awarded
A metal detectorist has reunited a navy medic’s family with a First World War medal after unearthing it in his back garden.
Mark Williams, 71, discovered the 1914-15 British Empire Star medal while out detecting at the rear of his house in Waterlooville, Hampshire.
Inscribed with the name G Waters, Mr Williams enlisted Clare Ash, a genealogist, to piece together how the 105-year-old medal ended up beneath his garden.
He said: ‘I was obviously surprised to see the medal but I recognised straight away what it was.’
Mark Williams (pictured above), 71, discovered the 1914-15 British Empire Star medal while out detecting at the rear of his house in Waterlooville, Hampshire
With the genealogist’s help, Mr Williams discovered the medal belonged to William George Waters who was born in Portsea in 1879 and lived in nearby Southsea.
Mr Waters, who eventually became chief medic in the Royal Navy, had joined up in 1899 at around 12 years old after lying about his age, according to his family.
After the onset of the Great War he served aboard HMS Birmingham, Carlisle and Iron Duke.
Mr Waters was posted to the North Sea where he saw active service during the Battle of Jutland which saw more than 6,000 allied servicemen perish and during which his vessel was the ‘first to sink a German submarine’.
Further research discovered Mr Waters’ great-granddaughter, Brenda Theobold, may be able to unlock the mystery of how the medal ended up in Mr Williams’ garden.
Mr Williams said: ‘We traced back that Brenda used to live in my house which would explain how it may have ended up in my back garden.
The front (right) and back (left) of the 1914-15 British Empire Star medal, inscribed with the name G. Waters. It is now presented in a display box at Mr Nicholson’s home in Kent
‘However after attempts to contact Brenda and her children Scott and Zoe we got no response.’
Luckily, Mr Waters had also been traced to another descendant, Brian Nicolson, 81, who was the former chief medic’s grandson.
Mr Williams eventually managed to get in touch with Mr Nicolson’s step-daughter, Claire Redsull, and reunited the medal with the family more than 100 years after it was awarded.
With Mr Nicolson unable to talk due to ongoing health issues, Ms Redsull said: ‘When I told him about the medal his eyes just shone. He’s so proud of his grandfather and sends a huge thank you.’
He now has the medal presented in a display box at his home in Kent.
Mr Williams pictured with his metal detector. He got in touch with Mr Nicolson’s step-daughter and reunited the medal with the family more than 100 years after it was awarded
Ms Redsull added: ‘When I gave him the medal he had the biggest smile and just sat looking at it.
‘He did manage to tell me that [his grandad] had lied about his age and was in fact about 12 years old when he first went into service.
‘If you look at the service record, it does state 12 years old but has been lined through and changed to 18 years old.’
After seeing a photograph of Mr Nicolson with the medal, Mr Williams said: ‘It’s absolutely brilliant that this medal has been returned to William’s grandson.
‘Whenever you find a personal item it’s great to get it back to where it belongs.’