A lost WWI medal has sparked a quest to uncover a mystery man’s lost history
A mysterious find in the bush has sparked a hunt for its owner.
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A mysterious First World War medal found in the bush has sparked a hunt to find its owner and uncover the lost history of an Anzac.
The silver medallion awarded to a Cooktown-born veteran was uncovered in an embankment last month but efforts find a next of kin have proven unsuccessful.
Diana Pettersen was walking her dog on May 25 when an unusual glimmer caught her eye.
“It was half buried. I don’t know how long it had been there because I didn’t have to dig,” she said.
“I could tell it looked a bit like a 20 cent piece, but it was different and it was half covered.
“So that’s when I went down there and fished it out from underneath some leaves and dirt and stuff and went, ‘Wow, what is this?’”
Ms Peterson had stumbled upon an incredible find.
After some sleuthing and a chance meeting with a local historian, she found the prize belonged to John Francis Lambert, a horse trainer born in Far North Queensland who lived in regional Victoria.
“People were asking me if it was a real or fake and said that if it was real there would be information around the rim,” she said.
“So I put the glasses on and looked around the rim and went, holy cow. There’s all these specific details.
“Somebody went to war, I don’t know the details of it, where it’s come from, but I’m really curious now.”
Details surrounding John’s life are murky but records from the National Archives of Australia gave a veiled insight.
Enlisted in March 1917, John joined the 11th Light Horse Regiment and embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Port Sydney A15 on May 9 and arrived in Suez on June 20.
After operations across Egypt, John contracted malaria in 1918 and was medically discharged in October 1919.
It is understood that Mr Lamberton may have changed his name to Lindermen following the war and worked in Winton.
Upon his completion, the soldier was awarded the 1914-1915 star, Victory medal and the British war medal.
John’s full service history is largely unknown, but his regiment played a pivotal part in defending the Suez Canal, suppressing an Egyption revolt and warding off Turkish advances in Palestine.
Despite suffering fewer casualties than those on the Western Front, strict quarantine requirements and high transport costs meant that cavalry suffered greatly, with only one horse named Sandy returning home across all light horse regiments.
Ms Pettersen had enjoyed the mystery but wanted to reunite the lost award with his family
“It’s significant and it’s important to somebody,” she said.
“I would want to cherish it and keep it in a very special spot. Because that’s something that can be handed down to generations.
“I definitely want it to go to the family and I’d love to be part of that process.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact timothy.little@news.com.au.
Originally published as A lost WWI medal has sparked a quest to uncover a mystery man’s lost history
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