Decades ago, a fob honouring Sam McMillan’s service in World War 1 slipped from his grasp and into the Mataura River.
Yesterday, the precious memento was back in the hands of his family.
Dunedin man Les Barkman found the fob in the mud about 50 years ago and — despite its clear inscription that it was a gift to Corp S. McMillan for his service in the World War 1 — he was unable to track down the owner.
The Barkmans looked after the fob, hoping they might one day find the McMillans and yesterday Sandra Robinson (nee Barkman) met Laurel Johnson — Sam McMillan’s granddaughter — to return the treasure she became custodian of.
"I am delighted to have been able to return Corp Sam McMillan’s very special fob medallion to his granddaughter, Laurel," Mrs Robinson said.
"As my nephew said, my Dad, Les, would be so proud."
The wheels to reunite the fob with the McMillans were set in motion by an Otago Daily Times story last month about trying to identify photographs of World War 1 servicemen.
A friend of the Robinsons contacted the newspaper and Iain Davidson, the historian who had been interviewed for the article, passed the details on to Ian Martyn of Medals Reunited.
While Mr Martyn normally tracks down the families of the original recipients of medals since lost or sold, he was happy to turn his hand to the fob — and tracked down Laurel Johnson.
Mr Martyn arranged a meeting yesterday in Wellington at a World War 1 exhibition at Pukeahu, where the fob was returned.
"I have felt quite emotional about all this for the last couple of weeks and today even more so after seeing part of the Great War Exhibition," Mrs Johnson said.
"How those soldiers must have suffered: no wonder my grandfather never talked about it.
"I wish now I had asked him questions but when I was a youngster I had no knowledge nor understanding of the war."
Mrs Johnson doubted her grandfather would have talked about his service anyway — which would have been a shame as he had a story to tell.Awarded a Military Medal for bravery, Sam McMillan lied when he enlisted — claiming to be his elder brother William.
"Using his brother’s birthday made Sam exactly 20 years old — his own birth date made him only 18," Mr Martyn said.
"The prescribed minimum age for voluntary service overseas was 20."
Corp McMillan was wounded four times before his discharge in 1918, only four months after his 20th birthday.
Now the fob was back with the McMillan family, it would be passed on to future generations Mrs Johnson said.
"My son [Brett] joined us at my request, as I said the medallion would be his one day," she said.
"He had said that he wouldn’t want it but now, after hearing the story and seeing the exhibition, he has had a change of heart and will treasure it.
"The medallion is beautiful and I will wear it proudly."
