Robert Bower - WWI pair

This return has several complications so I try to keep the explanation succinct.

This story started with a message from Darryl W who had the WWI pair awarded to 677A CPL Robert Bower. Darryl's father in law served in the RAN and one of his mates was R34273 George Kenneth Bower. Known as Ken, this was Robert's son. Ken did marry and this was to NF452704 Joan Muriel Henry. However, they didn't have any children and were divorced after a few years of marriage. 

When Ken died, Robert's medals passed to Darryl's wife's family and that has what has led to this research.

Robert had several siblings one was David Renfrew Bower. His son was 165909 AC Frank Bower who served in the RAAF during WWII. Frank had three sons; Carl, Ray and Kevin. Robert was from Wallsend in NSW and the successive generations have remained in the Newcastle area. I came across a social media post about a Wallsend school reunion and seeking to locate the Bower brothers. This search was successful. I contacted the reunion organiser and my details were passed to Kevin. 

Kevin had I spoke yesterday and he is very excited about getting his great uncles' medals back into the family.

Thank you to Darryl for sending me the medal and to Carl for connecting me with the Bower family. The returned medal tally is now 3048.

Rupert Walker - 1914-15 Star

This return is a collaborative effort with the Queensland Police Service.

It all started with an email from Constable JC who had received a 1914-15 Star. I was provided the following details.

Using this information, I confirmed the soldier was 1734 Driver Rupert Walker. As part of my research I came across this picture of Rupert.

Rupert Walker died in 1961. His wife was Chirstina and their daughter was Audrey Winifred who married Norman Adams. This information led me to the next two generations and identifying the name od Rupert's great grandson. What I couldn't find out was the current contact details of that person. 

I provided all this to Constable JC who located the great grandson and has arranged to return Rupert's 1914-15 star and a couple of other items to his family.

The returned medal tally is now 3049.

A A King

This search started with an email from Cooper K who told me:

In my family, we’ve had a box of medals passed down from my great great grandfather and great grandfather from ww1 and ww2. Recently in this box, I noticed the medals belonging to 2 other people; a victory medal and a British war medal belonging to Private A. A. King, 37th battalion (the same battalion as my great great grandfather), 2354, and a Korean War medal belonging to W. Harald, 171733. I was just hoping we could return these medals to their families so they can have them. 

When I accessed the service record for 2354 PTE Albert Arthur King the first this that was apparent is that he had a self inflicted wound. Ultimately, Albert was found guilty by a Field General Court Martial for shooting himself in the left foot. The charge says 'carelessly wounded himself in the foot'. What is specifically does' not say is the wound was intentional. This suggests to me this was accidental rather than a premeditated effort to get away from the front. Albert continued to serve in roles other than as an infantry solider which reinforces the accidental nature of his wound.  

I have been in contact with Albert's great niece and will send the medals to her shortly.

The search for the family of W Harald continues.

The returned medal tally is now 3046.