First World War Medal Reunited with Descendant

A First World War medal, previously held by an unrelated family for multiple generations, has now been given back to its rightful lineage. The discovery was made by Ian Lofthouse, who found the medal, originally bestowed upon Private Albert W Dove of the Yorkshire Hussars, while sorting through his mother’s belongings during a recent relocation. Following his contact with the Wheatley Hill History Club, located in County Durham, it was ascertained that Mr. Dove had worked as a putter at Thornley pit prior to his military enlistment. He lost his life in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, survived by his wife and daughter. The medal has since been presented to Gary Mains, a descendant of Mr. Dove, who expressed that he was “extremely proud and honoured” to receive it. Members of the history club endeavored to ascertain any familial connection between the two families, noting that Mr. Lofthouse is a descendant of the Atkinson family from Wheatley Hill. It was also noted that Mr. Lofthouse’s grandfather had been employed at Thornley pit prior to the First World War, but was excused from military service due to an injury. The prevailing belief is that the two men were colleagues and their families maintained a friendship, leading Mrs. Dove to entrust the British War Medal to the Atkinson family following her husband’s passing. A military historian associated with the club, who was acquainted with members of the Dove family residing in Thornley, subsequently reached out to them regarding the medal. Mr. Mains, whose connection to Mr. Dove is through his maternal lineage, received the medal on Thursday at the Wheatley Hill war memorial, a site that prominently displays his ancestor’s name. He stated that it was a “privilege and honour” to accept the medal and expressed his anticipation of displaying it in the family’s home as a tribute to their fallen relative.