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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: BettyofKent on Friday 21 September 07 19:19 BST (UK)

Title: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: BettyofKent on Friday 21 September 07 19:19 BST (UK)
What some of us wouldn't give to have a collection like this -

Lost property officers are hoping to find the owner of a collection of World War II memorabilia found behind some garages.

The collection includes long-service medals dated from 1939 to 1941, photographs and letters and an article from the East Kent Gazette dated 1941.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7006408.stm

I hope someone recognises these items & claims them, it would be awful if they were destroyed.

Betty
Title: WW2 Memorabilia in Kent
Post by: markee on Friday 21 September 07 22:01 BST (UK)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7006408.stm

Did anyone see an item on South East news about a load of letters, photos etc found in Sittingbourne in Kent and handed into the police. They are all to do with WW2.
A valuable resource for someone but destined to be incinerated if nobody claims them!
Have a look and see if you recognise any information.



Moderator Comment: topics merged
Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: Tephra on Saturday 22 September 07 02:04 BST (UK)



Perhaps the Rootschat members could do a search and rescue for the family.   Having read previous threads, it appears to be what Rootschatter do best

Nowt
Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: Ruskie on Saturday 22 September 07 03:33 BST (UK)
I'd like to be notified if anyone decides to take up this challenge ...
Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: Jane Masri on Saturday 22 September 07 08:25 BST (UK)
If interested descendants can't be traced, I think the collection should be offered to the East Kent Record Office, at least they would be safe & freely available to one & all  :)

jane
Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: Nutty1966 on Saturday 22 September 07 08:30 BST (UK)
I agree with Ruskie

Would the medals have service numbers on, please excuse my ignorance, but I have no military connections what so ever


Jane


Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: trish251 on Saturday 22 September 07 08:51 BST (UK)
I agree with Ruskie

Would the medals have service numbers on, please excuse my ignorance, but I have no military connections what so ever


Jane




In Australia (well for my dad), the medals have numbers and names on them - I assume this would be the same over there but have no first hand proof

Trish
Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: trish251 on Saturday 22 September 07 09:03 BST (UK)
There are a number of Able Seamans Johnson who died in 1841. Looking at a few I found one from Kent - could be more - my English geography is not very good.

Listening to the film it seems to be Harold Leslie Johnson - Son of John Thomas and Rebecca Jane Johnson, of Sittingbourne, Kent. Aged 21, died 29 May 1941. (From CWGC)

It seems they were found in Sittingbourne, Kent - they may quickly get claimed.

Trish

Edit: I wonder if the soldier was perhaps a brother-in-law?
Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: casalguidi on Saturday 22 September 07 09:14 BST (UK)
We appear to have another thread running on the same topic:

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,257161.0.html
Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: Pels. on Saturday 22 September 07 10:33 BST (UK)


As I've just said - great minds think alike!  ;D ;D

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,257215.0.html

Pels  :)
Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: BettyofKent on Sunday 30 September 07 16:50 BST (UK)
A happy ending:

Wartime letters found dumped behind garages in Kent have been reunited with the son and nephew of the two servicemen who wrote them.
The memorabilia was in a box which also contained World War II medals belonging to Frank Spice and Harold Johnson.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7020672.stm

 :)
Betty
Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: Jane Masri on Sunday 30 September 07 17:08 BST (UK)
Indeed it is a happy ending, Betty  :D

jane
Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: mahees on Sunday 30 September 07 22:53 BST (UK)
I noticed Frank Spice was on geneseunited. I'm suprised they didn't look there before the telly appeal  ???

Glad it all ended well, I'd love to own something like that.
Title: Re: WWII collection in lost property
Post by: Ruskie on Sunday 30 September 07 23:01 BST (UK)
Fantastic result!!

My first thought when reading the above article was, the old aunt seemed so pleased that this collection was found, I wonder if she'd like rootschatters to "do" her tree?

But also think that if Frank Spice was on genes, he must have an interest in family history, and perhaps he's already "done" their tree? He might like to join RootsChat!