First World War medal found in field near Bishop Auckland

Can you help reunite it with Wilf’s family?

The Silver War Badge was given to soldiers when they were medically discharged from the army, either through sickness or war wounds. It was designed to be worn on civilian clothes to show that they had served and were not, as some members of the public might think, shirkers.

On the back of the badge is a number – B306311 – which corresponds to Pte Robinson’s name on the Silver War Badge rolls in the National Archive.

Mark has discovered that Wilf was born in Deanery Street, Eldon, on April 28, 1890, to George and Mary Robinson. He had two siblings: Nellie, born 1893, and Sydney, born 1910.

They moved to Lambs Terrace, Coundon, before the 1911 census caught up with them all living at 31, Victoria Terrace, Coundon, with Wilf described as “a grocer’s assistant”.

He enlisted, aged 26, on October 25, 1916, into the Yorkshire Regiment, but was transferred to the Corps of Hussars and then the Dorset Regiment from which, on September 16, 1919, he was medically discharged.

He returned to south Durham, married Jane Wright in 1920, and they lived in Heslop Street in Close House where, over the next 12 years, they were joined by six sons: Fred, Allan, George, Frank, Ernest and Robert.

It is believed that Wilf continued working in the grocery trade, and remained in Close House until he died in July 1961, aged 71.

If you know anything more, please email chris.lloyd@nne.co.uk. Mark would love to get the medal back to his family.

Pte Wilfred Robinson's parents, George and Mary, of Eldon, and his younger brother, Sydney

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