Ten year search for family of fallen Darley Dale soldier

Christine Davis of Matlock with the plaque and letter relating to the Great War which she is hoping to get back to the owner's family.

Ten years ago Les Davis was running an antiques shop, Past and Present, in Smedley Street, Matlock.

One day he was looking in an old chest of drawers when he noticed a bronze plaque and letter signed by King George ...

“It read ‘I join with my grateful people in sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the Great War’,” Les, of Matlock, said.

“It came with a bronze plaque about four inches across and on the side it says ‘he died for freedom and honour’ and there is a lion and Britannia on it.”

The name of the fallen soldier was George William Wall.

Keen to reunite the treasure with Mr Wall’s family, Les put more than one letter in the Mercury appealing for information, however no family members got in contact with him.

He managed to find out that there is a George Wall listed on the Darley Dale war memorial.

“I thought with it being the hundredth anniversary of the start of World War One I would try again,” Les, who now works as a housing manager, said.

“I just think it would be nice to give back to the family that lost a loved one and perhaps they don’t even know they have lost at loved one.

“It would be nice to give it back to the Wall family if it still exists.”

Do you think you are related to George Wall? If you are email [email protected] or call 01246 504536.