A PENARTH historian has helped a family be reunited with war medals that were stolen from their home nearly a decade ago.

Local military historian Dr Jonathan Hicks returned the two priceless medals to Dr John Evans of Cwmbran last week, after they had been awarded to his grandfather-in-law Private William Stonehouse, who served during the Great War with the Royal Engineers and the East Yorkshire Regiment.

Dr Hicks, the head teacher of St Cyres School, said: “John contacted me via a WW1 Forum and explained that the two medals had been stolen from his son’s house in 2006. I had bought them in good faith later that year from a local junk shop and had posted a message online seeking further information. John saw that message eight years on and got in touch. I am pleased to be able to reunite them with the family.”

Private Stonehouse served on the Western Front in many of the major battles that took place there – the Somme, Ypres, Hill 60 and Poelcappelle. He enlisted with the Royal Engineers but in August 1917 he was one of a draft of 200 men who were transferred to the 6th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment to fill the gaps in the ranks caused by the horrific number of casualties incurred during the Battle of Passchendaele.

William fortunately survived the war. He was John Evans’s grandfather-in-law.

Dr Evans added: “I and the family are absolutely delighted to be reunited with these medals. It’s an astounding story and thanks to Jonathan the reunion has taken place.”