MEDALS belonging to a First World War soldier should be reunited with his family, according to a pensioner.

Former police officer David Grant has the medals of an Oxfordshire Yeomanry soldier and now wants to pass them on to the soldier’s family, as the centenary of the Armistice approaches.

The Armistice on November 11, 1918 ended fighting on land, sea and air between the Allies and their opponent, Germany.

Mr Grant, 70, from Woodville in Derbyshire, said: “I have in my possession the First World War medals of a soldier from the Oxfordshire Yeomanry, that I would love to pass on to his family.

“There are three campaign medals bearing the name Private George Byrne, who served with my grandfather, Charles Grant, of the Staffordshire Regiment.

“It would appear they became good friends at some time during the conflict.

“My grandfather was shot and wounded and may have met Pte Byrne in a military hospital in Shropshire.”

Mr Grant said his grandfather survived the war and it may have been when they met that Pte Byrne’s medals came into his family’s possession.

He added: “My grandfather died aged 66 in 1956 just after he retired as a labourer and we have treasured his medals ever since.

“My family came from Rugeley in Staffordshire and I know Pte Byrne lived there for a time.

“I think he joined the Oxfordshire Yeomanry in 1914 with the gentleman who he was working as a groom for.

“Pte Byrne was invalided out of the fighting in 1915 due to asthma but I don’t know anything more about him after that, apart from the fact that he lived in the Rugeley area, which is where my grandfather also lived.

“If anyone from Private Byrne’s family reads this I would love them to get in touch.

“These medals have been in our family for decades and we think it’s the right time now to pass them on.”

Father-of-three Mr Grant, who lives with wife Maureen, said he has already been in touch with the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum.

The museum in Woodstock keeps the archives of Oxfordshire regiments and features documents relating to the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and The Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars.

Volunteers at the museum, situated in the grounds of the Oxfordshire Museum, have already starting piecing together the wartime life of Pte Byrne.

Mr Grant added: “I think it’s very important that we commemorate the centenary of the Armistice.

“The First World War is a very important part of our history and our heritage and I think we should remember the sacrifice the soldiers made.”

To help Mr Grant pass on Pte Byrne’s medals contact him on clearview51@btinternet.com