Sometimes, history comes calling when you least expect it. In this case, a First World War medal found in an attic became the key to unlocking a long-forgotten story of British Army service in WWI. This is how one client used a simple artifact to trace a WW1 British soldier, discover his regiment, and bring a family’s hidden military history back to life.
The Discovery: A Medal in the Attic
While sorting through a deceased relative’s belongings, the client discovered a dusty British War Medal in an old tin. The inscription revealed a name, regiment, and service number — but the identity of the soldier was a mystery to everyone in the family.
The client began searching online with phrases like:
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“how to identify a WW1 British medal by name”
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“find British Army soldier using WW1 medal”
That search led them to History Recon, where we specialise in tracing military ancestors in the British Army, Royal Navy, and RAF.
Starting with the Medal: Researching a WW1 British Soldier
With the name and service number engraved on the medal, we accessed:
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Campaign medal rolls
These revealed that the soldier had served in the Essex Regiment, enlisting in 1915 and deployed to the Western Front in 1916. His medal entitlement — the British War Medal and Victory Medal — confirmed overseas service in a recognised theatre of war.
The client used longtail searches such as:
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“trace WW1 soldier using medal number”
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“British Army WWI service records explained”
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“how to research a soldier in the Essex Regiment WW1”
Digging Deeper: Regimental War Diaries and Battlefield History
Once we identified the soldier’s battalion, we turned to the regimental war diaries. These provided day-by-day accounts of:
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Battles fought (including the Somme, Arras, and Ypres)
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Trench movements and casualty reports
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Changes in unit structure and transfers
The war diary revealed the soldier was wounded during an offensive in 1917 and later transferred to a labour unit — a detail the family had never known. It also explained why he didn’t return to front-line service, despite surviving the war.
This level of insight came from layered research using:
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“where did the Essex Regiment fight in WW1”
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“WW1 war diaries for British Army battalions”
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“how to trace WW1 army ancestor by regiment and number”
The Role of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Although this soldier survived the war, the client also discovered relatives listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, helping them map extended family losses in both World Wars.
By searching:
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“find family member killed in WW1 British Army”
they gained a broader understanding of the family’s wartime contribution.
Why British War Medals Matter in Military Genealogy
A single medal can lead to:
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A soldier’s regiment, battalion, and service number
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Their enlistment and discharge timeline
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Confirmation of overseas service
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Campaigns and battles they fought in
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Pension and medical records if wounded or discharged
It’s not uncommon for families to start with a medal and end up discovering a full military biography.
Let History Recon Help Trace Your Military Ancestor
At History Recon, we specialise in helping clients trace British military ancestors in WW1, even from just a small clue like a medal, photo, or document. Whether your relative served in the British Army, Royal Navy, or Royal Air Force, we offer expert support to:
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Decode WWI medal records
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Access and interpret British Army service records
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Use war diaries to track your ancestor’s movements
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Search the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for lost relatives
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Understand British Army service numbers and unit structures
If you'd prefer expert guidance, see our military research packages to get detailed assistance from our genealogists.
Or, discover more about tracing your British ancestors WWI service here