Can you solve the medals mystery?

May 3 2012 by Lawrence Poole, Buckinghamshire Examiner

medals

MEMBERS of the Royal British Legion are hoping they can help reunite a family with a mystery soldier’s collection of medals and documents found in a hedge 245 miles away.

Police in Billingham in Teeside discovered the hoard of medals, ID cards and personal documents belonging to a Sgt Ronald Thomas Price.

The belongings show he served with the Royal Army Medical Corps in India in the 1940s and police believe he may have connections with Amersham and Chesham.

Also found were Army buttons and badges, as well as medals from the First World War, travel documents and various road maps of the UK.

There is also a black and white photograph of Sgt Price at the Taj Mahal with the message “All my love, Ronald xx” on the back.

The bag of items may have been removed earlier from a nearby skip being used by workmen clearing the property of a recently deceased person.

Two people have come forward to try to claim the belongings but it is not yet known where they are from.

Chesham British Legion vice-chairman Brian Shrieve said: “It’s unbelievable that they were found up there, especially if they do come from around here.

“Our president, Bill Kerr, seems to remember somebody called Price, but he’s unsure whether it was this Price, or a relative, or what.”

He added: “The legion are looking into it to see if anything can be pieced together.

“It would be lovely if we could reunite the belongings with his family and hopefully this article will jog memories and someone will come forward.”

Kieran O’Rourke of the Cleveland Police Property Store said: “We believe the documents may have come from a house that was being cleared, though the deceased occupant did not share the same name. These are personal belongings which may carry a great deal of sentimental value and we would like to return them to relatives of Mr Price if possible.”

Anyone with information can contact Mr O’Rourke on 01642 303 370 or Mr Kerr on 01494 784 719.

● Do you know of Sgt Ronald Thomas Price? Email lawrencepoole@trinitysouth.co.uk or call 07795 812 070.