Fairfield pensioner ‘thrilled’ at return of uncle’s lost WW1 medal

Esme Belfield’s uncle John Broadbent’s British War Medal was lost after his parents’ family business collapsed in the years that followed the conflict.

The Fairfield mum-of-three spent years wondering what became of his service medal until she was contacted by medal collector Wayne Taylor.

Former navy medic Wayne - who had bought the precious silver disc from another collector in Whaley Bridge - made contact after seeing comments she posted about the missing artefact on an online forum.

Wayne, 56, said it was ‘vitally important’ fallen veterans medals were returned to their families.

Father-of-two Wayne had the medal framed along with photographs of John in his uniform, his war monument plaque and his gravestone in Rawalpindi, India, where he died in 1918.

Speaking about the miraculous find Esme, 81, said: “ I was really thrilled - after finding out there was a medal I always wondered where it went to.

“So when Wayne got in touch I was very pleased to get it back - it was like a big gap in my life had been filled.”

Esme’s uncle – Private John Bainbridge – died aged 32 of heat stroke in Rawalpindi where he served with the 28th Motor Ambulance Convoy.

On May 25, 1918, he was admitted to hospital with a temperature of 42 degrees Celsius and a ‘very feeble pulse’ and sadly died the following day.

Postman John’s parents Joseph and Mary Bainbridge owned a coach and horse business and ran the Prince Of Wales pub on Fairfield Road.

However after the family business fell apart John’s medal disappeared - with Esme speculating that one of John’s brothers had sold the solid silver award.

Records from website Buxton War Memorials show John - who left behind a wife and daughter- spent six weeks sailing to India after setting out from England in January 1918.

He had enlisted in Buxton in September 1915 - with most of his service spent in London on police duties.

Speaking about her uncle’s death former domestic helper Esme said: “It was quite tragic really - it took a hell of a long time to get there and then he died of heat stroke.

“But he was a postman in the High Peak in all sorts of weather so it’s possible in India he was a bit neglectful of himself - maybe not drinking as much water as he should have.”

John - who was the eldest of nine boys - is remembered on two war memorials in Buxton - one on the Slopes and the other in Fairfield near the Bulls Head Hotel.

Medal collector Wayne - who served for 23 years in the Navy - told how he had made it his mission to see John’s medal returned.

He said: “I know how important it is families get them back - I wouldn’t want mine bandied about.”

Collector Wayne told how medals like John’s - about 35 ml in diameter and made of solid silver - were often sold by relatives for their silver value.

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