A SIMPLE Ancestry DNA check has led one family on a quest to find lost war medals after they uncovered details about their ancestors’ involvement in World War One.
David Laban’s interest in family history began when his 77-year-old mother May gave him the war medals her father had earned.
After this, he began a deep dive, signing up for Ancestry and discovering his great grandfather Frank Whitfield and two great great uncles - Walter and Tom, all on his mother’s side - had served in the First World War.
All were born in Barnsley and while Walter died in service in 1917 and is buried in Hamburg, Germany, Frank survived to meet his grandchildren
Little is known about Tom’s service, though it is believed he survived the war and moved to the Bradford area.
Frank was honoured with the Military Medal (MM), British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service with the Barnsley Pals 13th Battalion - he went on to die in 1952, aged 64.
The family would have also received the death penny and memorial scroll for Walter’s sacrifice in the war, as well as the two medals he was due, the Victory and British War medals.
Now, May, from Hoyland, is determined to track down her ancestors’ medals, to ensure they remain in the family and that her son has something to remember her heritage.
She told the Chronicle: “I’m the last one of this line and I’d like to think he’s got something of my family.
“I know there are some more Whitfields, but they’re not as closely related my cousins have passed on and I’m the youngest one.
“It was brilliant absolutely brilliant to find out about their past.
“A long time back now I gave David my dad’s medals the ribbons were all ripped but you can put new ribbons on.
“But I think that’s what set it all off the thing is I didn’t know about my granddad’s medals, nobody talked about it back then.
“I still remember going to my grandma’s house in Worsbrough Common and my granddad spent a lot of time in bed.
“Through this research I’ve found out he died because of a heart problem and diabetes, but I always remember seeing my granddad in bed when I went to see my grandma.”
David added: “It would be great to get the medals back
“I hope my mum can trace the medals and maybe some lost relatives along the way.”