trying to return a ww1 medal

[gortonboy]

Hi,,I was recently on e-bay looking for a cap badge from my grandads regiment,when i came across various medals for sale. I was a little sad to see that these medals had the names and regiment numbers on them,,and were obviously being sold by people with no family connection. Ah well..thats life. I then realised that i had a similar medal ,,but had not realised that there was a name and number around the edge.I hadnt paid the medal much attention,as it was a ww1 medal,and i had no-one i knew of who had served in this war,,plus it is a little damaged. However,i knew it was part of some odds and ends belonging to my grandfather,,so i rushed upstairs armed with my magnifying glass to see what name would be revealed. Alas,the name is unknown to me,,therefore i would like to try and return it to the family.Ihave done a little research,and have found him in the censuses. So i will post the details in the folorn hope that someone,someday lays claim to it.
Thomas Grailey b 1888 born Warrington..married to a Sarah Ann,,b 1889,,had a son John b 1911.I have him in the 1911 and 1891 census,,but cannot find him in 1901. His Grandfather is Michael Welsh b 1835 Galway,Ireland,,,grandmother Ann Welsh b 1833 Westmone,Ireland.Mother is a Mary Grailey b 1859 Warrington....cannot find a marriage to find the father,,he is not listed in the 1891

Thomas Grailey = Private =Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

army number 4238

the medal is the ww1 British war medal.

I have looked at the medal card listing,and that gave another number   241942

if anyone has access to Ancestry and could see if his service record survives that would be great.
Thank you all.

[gortonboy]

hi,,Thomas Grailey married Sarah Ann Hindle in Dec 1907 Bolton.

probable children
James b 1913
Thomas b 1915
Mary b 1917

[gortonboy]

i think i have him in 1901 now,,,mistrancribed as gealy !!!! 

his father is a John GRAILEY/GREALY/?? b 1861 b warrington.

possible marriage for his father
john grealy
mary doherty  may1886 warrington.

[neil1821]

Hi,,I was recently on e-bay looking for a cap badge from my grandads regiment,when i came across various medals for sale. I was a little sad to see that these medals had the names and regiment numbers on them,and were obviously being sold by people with no family connection. Ah well..thats life.

True, but if you pause to consider for a moment they were all initially sold by the family (or the recipient themselves), otherwise they wouldn't be on the open market at all.

I'm not trying to knock your idea of returning it, but sometimes family members simply aren't interested.
I was helping a friend's family with a house clearance a couple of years ago, and they came across some WW1 medals to a relative. I had to try hard before I persuaded them not to throw them in the bin! 

If you can't trace family, you could always offer it to the regimental museum.

[gortonboy]

hi,,i appreciate your point. All i know is,,that if it had been my families medal i had seen on e-bay,,i would pay whatever it took to get it back. I know it is a forlorn hope that someone is out there wishing they had their great grandads medal,,,but,,,if they are,,,they can have it with pleasure.

[toni*]

Hi Gorton Boy

Thomas medal card is on Ancestry and reads:

Grailey Thomas

York R Pte 27394

Victory 0/1/101.B14 page 1174
British do. do.

CWB Ref 0/173

remarks Disc.

no correspondence

[toni*]

i belive in order to earn the Victory Star they had to serve prior to or in 1915 - although i am not an expert 

[gortonboy]

hi ,,thanks toni,,although i have seen the medal card ref on the NA site,,,and he is def loyal north lancs and his numbers are as in my first post...thanks for looking.

[Gardener]

True, but if you pause to consider for a moment they were all initially sold by the family (or the recipient themselves), otherwise they wouldn't be on the open market at all.

I, for one, would be delighted if my grandfather's  medals turned up. I think my grandmother probably gave them to a male neighbour since she had only granddaughters herself. I doubt very much if they are being cherished by the next generation, though I could be wrong. It can be one person making the decision to sell the medals and that does not mean that no-one in the family wants them!
So I think it is wonderful of Gortonboy to make the effort!