A ROYAL Navy veteran is appealing for help in tracing his late father’s First World War medals.

James Brown, a private in the Great War, pawned his medals to put food on the table for his family — but never went back to retrieve them.

Now his son William Brown, who lives in Bolton, is hoping someone may have any information about what happened to them.

Mr Brown has contacted a number of organisations, including the army, but to no avail.

The medals would be easily recognisable as they are engraved with his father’s name: James Brown Private 12358.

Mr Brown, known to his friends and family as Bill, is now 91years old and hopes one day to see his father’s medals.

He said: “I would very much like to wear my father’s medals alongside mine at the war memorial.”

Mr Brown, who lives off Chorley Old Road, said: “I have been thinking about the medals ever since I was a little lad.

“There was a lot of poverty, real poverty.

“My father said you can’t eat medals, but you can eat bread.

“He pawned them and kept the best medal, which I have.”

Mr Brown, said: “It is only now, through watching films and television, that I realise what he went through. I am so proud of him.”

“He did not talk much about the war. He lost his brother and a lot of good friends, including one particular friend, they always were together.

“They were in no man’s land, and his friend was was shot.

“My father said he would never go back to France and he never did.

“He spoke about the medals, but not much about the war.”

Mr Brown’s father was wounded twice in the army, and after the more serious wound he was sent back to “Blighty”.

“The surgeon who operated on him asked where he came from, my father said Liverpool. The surgeon said he would get him as close to Liverpool as he could and he was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital. Townleys as it was known then.

“When he was feeling better he was allowed to go out where he met someone and got married and my siblings and I were the result.”

He said: “I would just like to know where the medals are.”

Mr Brown joined the Royal Navy and was awarded the Burma Star and Pacific Bar.

Anyone who can help in Mr Brown’s question should email schaudhari@theboltonnews.co.uk or ring 01204 537275.