My Favourite Find: A Hero’s Medals Saved by Chance
Genealogy Matters Atomic Tuesday Challenge: FAVORITE FIND
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One of the most meaningful discoveries in my family history journey came entirely by chance—and almost ended in tragedy. It was the unexpected find of my great-grandfather John Edwin Barnes’ World War I medals, a connection to a man I never knew but now feel incredibly close to.
John Edwin Barnes served bravely in the Essex Regiment and lost his life at Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. Like so many families touched by the war, we knew little about his service beyond the basics. That changed when my mum and her sisters were clearing out my grandfather’s house after he passed away. Among the many boxes destined for the skip, my mum unknowingly came across a small set of items—medals, wrapped and forgotten.
By pure luck, I happened to be there and caught sight of them just before they were discarded. I recognised their importance instantly. These medals weren’t just bits of metal—they were a link to the past, to sacrifice, and to a story nearly lost forever.
Today, they are proudly displayed in a frame on my living room wall and they are a daily reminder of my great-grandfathers courage and sacrifice.
Saving those medals didn’t just preserve a piece of my family’s heritage—it sparked a deeper interest in learning about the lives behind the names and dates. It’s my favourite family history find, not just for what it is, but for what it almost wasn’t.
What a fantastic save!
My sister has my Grandfather's WWI medals and so I was able to get a photo of them. I was able to recreate the entire set with authentic medals because there are so many of these loose medals for sale on Ebay.