A war hero’s precious campaign medals have been returned to his grateful family after being spotted by an eagle-eyed antique dealer.
Kevin Bennetts bought the set and spotted the name JB Earl on the rim of one medal but had no idea where the mystery soldier came from.
When he posted about it online a friend of the Earl family got in touch.
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Major James Burton Earl served in the Territorial Army as a gunner based in Cornwall.
He then served in Normandy after D-Day as the Allies pushed through France.
After the war he worked for his wife Beryl’s business, a fruit and vegetable wholesaler called Stephens and Pope in St Austell, Cornwall.
Most service medals do not have a name but the set included a Territorial Efficiency Medal which has a service number and a surname to help to identify the recipient.
Now his son David Earl has been reunited with his medals by Mr Bennetts.
Mr Bennetts, 61, of Wadebridge, Cornwall, bought the medals from a dealer in Wales.
He said: “I’ve been a medal collector for over 30 years.
“When I saw the name on this set I felt they should be returned to the family.
“He served in the war – he earned them.
“I was delighted when David got in touch and I was able to give them to him.
“And he was bowled over too.”
He said could have sold the medals for around £300 but gave them to the Earl family for nothing.
Former RAF pilot David Earl, 82, from St Austell said he was very moved by the gesture.
He said: “My father probably sold the medals to raise some money.
“It was very heartwarming to get them back.
“To have them returned has really touched me.”
He added he would now have the medals framed.
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