Information sought for silver war medal discovered at Zouch Manor

The medal survives in excellent condition, though misses its ribbon attachment bar.

The name of the medal’s original owner is J W Hanstock, whose service number (232654) and rank/regiment (a driver in the Royal Horse Artillery) is marked along the medal’s edge.

This example is an extremely rare and possibly unique find from an archaeological site and it seems particularly apposite that it was found in the year marking the centenary of the war’s start.

Little else is known so far about the medal’s original owner or how it came to be lost.

The medal card, stored at the record office at Kew, records his christian name as John.

Many First World War British army service records were destroyed during bombing in the Second World War and no further information relating to this young man has come to light.

Cotswold Archaeology would be interested to hear from anyone who thinks they may be related to John W Hanstock or who has information about his life after the war.

See more at cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk.