Peter has long had an interest in history, particularly military history, so when his cousin Michael Benson found some old war medals recently the hunt for their owners was on.

Michael lives in Sydney and works as a locksmith, and when he discovered three First World War medals in a locked draw in a safe it piqued his interest.

He called Peter in Bathurst who then began the search for the descendants of Lance Corporal James Edward Radford of the 3rd Battalion, who received the medals.

The medals – a 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal – were awarded to those who fought in Gallipoli.

“I found a brother of the soldier and then through looking at Census records from 1958 I found there was a son of the brother [Edward Radford, nephew of the soldier] living in Kincumber,” Peter said.

“I rang him up and said ‘are you related to Lance Corporal James Edward Radford’?

“He said ‘yeah, he’s my uncle’ and started telling me all this history.”

Lance Corporal Radford was shot at Lone Pine with one bullet passing through both legs. He was then sent to a hospital in Malta to recuperate. Unfortunately, the bullet damaged his femoral artery and he died from his injuries on August 22, 1915.

His three war medals were issued to his father Edward Radford, who stored them in his safe.

After Edward Radford’s death, the safe was passed between various family members and eventually ended up being lost during a move in Sydney.

Meanwhile, back in Bathurst, Peter also found out that even though the medals were discovered in Sydney, the soldier’s family has a strong connection to Bathurst.

Lance Corporal Radford’s father was sent from England to work at a mill in Victoria, then transferred to Bathurst and was employed as manager at Crago Mill. There were other coincidences between Peter’s own family, and that of the soldier’s, that have left him bemused.

Peter’s great uncle Reg Benson also served in the 3rd Battalion during the First World War.

Also, on Lance Corporal Radford’s enlistment papers it says he was with the 39th Infantry Battalion prior to enlisting in the Great War.

“My other great uncle Spencer Benson [brother of Reg Benson] was an officer, so he would have trained [Lance Corporal] James for sure,” Peter said.

The third coincidence was that while the medals were found in Sydney, the Memorial Plaque (known as the Dead Man’s Penny) was in the possession of the soldier’s nephew on the Central Coast.

Peter met with Edward Radford (nephew of the soldier) in Sydney last week to officially hand over the war medals and said it was a moment he will always remember.

“He was absolutely beside himself, he said he’d never seen them,” he said. “It was so interesting, he even had the bullet that went through the soldier’s legs.”