A MAN who stumbled upon a war hero’s medal and made it his ambition to reunite it with the soldier’s family has finally achieved his quest - almost 30 years later.
Frank Mason, 80, found the medal while working for the National Grid shortly before he retired 27 years ago.
He noticed it - engraved with the name ‘T Hoburn’ and the letters ‘RA’, attached to a heavily-worn ribbon - at the bottom of a wall off Yews Lane, Worsbrough Dale.
Each year - particularly around Armistice Day - he often wondered about its owner’s story.
The Chronicle can reveal that in the run-up to this year’s period of remembrance Frank, of Minster Way, Monk Bretton, had renewed hope of finding out the soldier’s story and asked a poppy-selling member of the Royal British Legion at Wentworth Garden Centre for help.
Further research undertaken by Anthony Moffett - who sprang into action on the day - brought back a positive identification of Thomas Hoburn, from Darfield, who served in the British Army for the Royal Horse Artillery.
His family met Frank last week to receive his service medal and he presented it to Thomas’ great-great niece, Carol Connell, and her husband, John.
Frank said: “Thomas was born in 1895 and served in the First World War.
“He died in 1965 so although he was young when he served as many were, he lived a full life.
“There were definitely a few tears shed by me and his family as it was such a special thing - they were absolutely thrilled to receive the medal after all this time.
“I’d always wanted to find out more about Thomas and the RBL helped a great deal in finally solving the puzzle I wanted to have answers to for almost 30 years.
“I remember finding the medal - it was just laid there while I was visiting a gang of workers in Worsbrough Dale and I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“I’d always sought to give it back to its rightful family so to finally do it, especially at this time of the year, is something I can’t quite believe.
“It was my 80th birthday yesterday so I really couldn’t have had a better present.”
Thomas was a driver for the Royal Horse Artillery and received the medal - inscribed with the words ‘The Great War for Civilisation’ on one side with the image of an angel on the other - which was given to soldiers who fought in the war.
He usually oversaw the artillery’s field operations from a mounted position on the lead, offside horse and could be identified in uniform by riding breeches, spurs and puttees that rolled from ankle to below the knee.
His older brother, Gilbert Hoburn, died in battle in France on May 5, 1917, at the age of 38 having been severely wounded.
Carol, who is related to Thomas through her father Sam Ennis’ side of the family, added: “We were absolutely thrilled when we were told about Frank and the medal he had found all those years ago.
“My husband, John, has a keen interest in ancestry and I remember going to see Uncle Tommy where he lived with his sister - Auntie Sally - on East Street in Darfield.
“He returned from war and went to work in the pits - funnily enough he kept the horse connection as he drove the ponies while working at Houghton Main Colliery.
“He never married and I was only eight when he died but I always used to walk with him into Darfield to collect his pit pension.
“I still have his old spectacles but I didn’t know the medal even existed, so it’s wonderful to have it back in the family.
“We’re so thankful for its return.”
Anthony told the Chronicle it was a ‘pleasure’ to help solve the three-decade-long mystery.
“I was on the stall selling poppies and Frank came over to ask about the medal and its original owner’s identity.
“Quite quickly I knew we’d got the right man as it’s possible to trace the medal’s index to where it was given and indeed who to.
“We knew it said ‘T Hoburn’ and ‘RA’ so, with the index, we traced it back to Thomas.
“He was from Darfield and I believe he went abroad to serve in 1916, having signed up a year earlier.
“It was a great thing to be a part of as it’s always nice to uncover long-lost answers.”
