> > > > These then passed to his estranged wife who soon remarried but > > > > tragically died young. > > > > > > > > Tony Proctor > > > Sorry, Tony, but if she was estranged at the time of his death, I'd > > > think there'd be considerable question about whether she ever had > > > physical possession of the things, unless there was a common child, > > > which evidently there wasn't. That all being true, there'd be > > > little to no reason for the 2nd husband or his family to keep track > > > of 'em even if she DID have them in a box in the closet. > > > > > > The phrase Lost Cause keeps passin' through my mind. > > > > > > Cheryl Singhals <singhals@erols.com> > > > > Technically speaking, she was still his wife Cheryl, and she > > received all his personal effects. I have copies of the letters and > > the inventory. I was too young to remember anything from that time > > but I suspect personal possessions and pensions may have caused a > > rift in the family and that must have reduced the chances of > > recovery even further. > > > > "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com> > > I can think of two possible routes they'd have gone. One would have > been in a house clearance. If it weren't so long ago (from what you > wrote it seems that his wife would have died in the 50s or early > 60s) it would have been worth contacting the local auction house who > would have known who their regular local medal collectors were. By > now of course those collectors and maybe the auction house are > probably no longer active. The other possibility is that they have > been donated to his regiment. Have you tried contacting their > musem? > > Ian Goddard <goddai01@hotmail.co.uk> > > Hotmail is for spammers. Real mail address is igoddard > at nildram co uk His wife died in the 60's. I believe the house passed to her brother - also now deceased. There was a house clearance quite recently and her brother's step-son moved the remaining family away from the area. I did get an address for him and wrote a letter but got no response, which may be because it was incorrect or because he didn't like the idea of me contacting him. I may never know. My first thing to check here must be whether the medals were personalised at all (i.e. name and number of any of them). This was the main reason for me chasing them down Thanks for everyone's inputs Tony Proctor "Tony Proctor" <tony_proctor@aimtechnology_NoMoreSPAM_.com>