Family sought as WW1 medal is unearthed

Metal detector and history enthusiast Jez Roberts discovered a First World War Victory Medal while out searching in Hampton Lucy.

And he is now hoping to track down the family of the soldier the precious medal was awarded to so it can be handed back where it belongs.

The enthusiast explained that with the help of records, he may have enough information to track down any family in the area,

Details on the medal from the Ministry of Defence show that it was awarded to a Reginald Robbins for his service during the war with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Private Robbins is recorded to have served in the military from 1916 and survived the conflict.

His medal index card shows he was entitled to a Victory Medal, of which there were five in total available to individuals who saw service.

Medals carry the name of the recipient and usually included service number, rank, name and military unit on the side or back of the metal.

And after making the find, Mr Roberts is hoping the gunner is the same Reginald Charles Robbins who appears on the 1911 census as born in 1888 and living at Kenilworth.

Mr Robbins was an iron worker in a car factory and was married to Mabel, but there is no indication of any children at this time.

Records show that he survived the war and died in December 1964 at Warwick.

On the 1901 census his father, Charles, is shown as a wine merchant and the family lived at The Square.

He married Mabel Jane Spicer in 1910 in the town. She was from Leamington but nothing more is known about her family.

Anyone who has any information on the family, or who may be related and wishes to bring the medal back into the family can contact the Courier or KWN on 457725 or editorial@kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk