Last updated at 19:39, Thursday, 16 February 2012

A Cockermouth woman, whose husband’s seven war medals were lost in the 2009 floods, has had them returned this week.

BACK WHERE THEY BELONG: Robert Porter, director of Derwent & Solway, returns the lost war medals to Joseph McCormick's widow Marjorie

It marked the end of a two-year search for the owner of the medals, which had been found in mud beside the River Cocker.

Marjorie McCormick, 86, who was rescued by boat from her Croftside home during the November deluge, lost most of her possessions and her late husband Joseph’s medals, which included the Burma Star.

He served in the 51st Field Artillery during World War Two.

The medals were found in mud during the clean-up at a communal area at Croftside by staff from social landlord Derwent & Solway.

Initial attempts to identify the medals and track down their owner were unsuccessful, as Mrs McCormick did not return to Croftside. She had moved into the Stanbeck care home in Workington.

But staff at Derwent & Solway did not give up, and with the help of the King’s Own Royal Border Regiment Museum in Carlisle they managed to find Mrs McCormick.

More than two years later they have returned the medals.

Mrs McCormick said: “They were very special to me as they are the only thing I have to remember Joseph’s war days.

“When the floods first hit I didn’t realise they had gone because you are going through so much trauma.

“There was so much going on and I didn’t realise how much had happened.

“There were a lot of things that have come back that I didn’t know had gone missing.

“I am so grateful to the people who found them and it is wonderful because they are very special.

“I was very much surprised when they were returned to me.”

The medals found were a 1939-1945 Star, the Africa Star, the Burma Star, the Tobruk Siege medal, the Defence Medal, the 1939-1945 medal and the territorial medal.

Robert Porter, director of Derwent & Solway, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the medals are now being reunited with their owner’s family after an extensive search following the floods.

“I would like to express my thanks to The King’s Own Royal Border Regiment Museum in Carlisle as well as the Derwent & Solway Estate Services team for their help in solving the mystery.”

First published at 19:21, Thursday, 16 February 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk