Bid to reunite family with hero's medals

PIECE of history . . . John Ellis, who lives in Devon, is seeking to return a War Medal and Victory Medal to the relatives of Private H Platts, of Oldham

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

A MAN who found two medals belonging to an Oldham soldier who died in the First World War in a box of family memorabilia is looking to return them to his relatives.

John Ellis, who lives in Devon, is seeking to return a War Medal and Victory Medal to the relatives of Private H Platts, of Oldham, who was killed in action in France on September 28, 1918.

Mr Ellis, now in his 70s, found the medals in a box of family memorabilia which he has had since his youth but he does not recall the medals being in his family's possession at that time.

He assumes they came to his family's possession at a later date, possibly from his late step-father whose surname was Gulliford and who also worked as a district nurse in and around Rochdale.

Desire

With a desire to return the medals to his relatives, Mr Ellis researched Private Platts and found that he lived on Ashley Street off Main Road, Oldham and served in B Coy, 1st/10th Btn, Manchester Regiment.

He was 25 when he died and is buried in Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Villiers-Plouich, France. He was son of Fred and Mary Platts who also lived on Ashley Street and he had a sister called Florence Mary Platts who at the time of the 1911 census was 19.

On October 12, 1918, a report of his death appeared in the Chronicle and his name can also be found at St Mary's Church memorial.

The War Medal and Victory Medal were awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces for their service in the First World War.

Anyone who may have any information about Private Platts contact the Chronicle on 0161-633 2121 or via email.