Amazing postman reunites families with relatives long lost war medals

27 January 2024 , 18:48

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Adam turned amateur genealogist

A postman has been making special deliveries in his spare time by reuniting families with their relatives’ long-lost war medals.

Adam Simpson-York, 37, was inspired to research his family tree after inheriting his great-grandfather’s Second World War medals, letters and photos. But then he carried on, buying First World War medals on eBay and tracking down soldiers’ relatives via genealogy sites.

And the postie has now reunited more than 100 families with their special keepsakes.

When Adam received David Ellis’s possessions, he was struck by how much his ancestor looked like his son Reuben, 14. He said: “It made me want to find out as much as I could about him. Once I’d finished, I didn’t want to waste the genealogy site subscriptions, so when I stumbled across some First World War medals on eBay, I bought them and challenged myself to track down the owner’s relatives.”

The dad of two was able to reunite Sgt Harry Bingham’s medals with his great-nephew, who gratefully reimbursed him. Adam, who lives in Ipswich, Suffolk, with wife Jade, 35, Reuben and other son Tate, 10, put the money into similar purchases.

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Medals of Gunner John Burrows

He said: “It gives me an enormous sense of satisfaction and pride to be able to keep these men’s memories alive.”

Caroline Kimble was reunited with a set of dominoes whittled by her great-grandfather Edward Starling, who was killed in 1917 in the Battle of Passchendaele. The soldier had inscribed them with his private’s number and the words “to Alice”, who was expecting his son.

Caroline said: “Holding the set in my hands, I got chills. My father John was moved to tears.”

Dan Bond, who spent two decades trying to find out more about his long-lost great-great-uncle, Sapper Harry Barker, was thrilled to get his medals. He said: “They’re in a frame with a picture of Harry, to remember his service for ever.”

And Gunner John Burrows’ medals are worn with pride by great-great-granddaughter Tabitha, 12.

Her dad Ben Brampton said: “Adam really is making sure these brave men are still remembered for generations to come.”

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Heather Main