Chance find returns brave soldier’s medal
FOR more than 50 years Trooper William Alfred McLaren's Boer War medal has been in the care of Yelarbon resident Ruth Yeo, and now by pure chance it's finally been returned to his family.
Trooper McLaren served in both the Boer and First World Wars at Gallipoli, before settling back in Australia at the Samford Valley.
His Boer War medal, which dates back 113 years, was found on a beach in Townsville by Mrs Yeo when she was just 19.
It was by sheer coincidence Mrs Yeo and her husband Fred were sitting at the Warwick McDonalds reading a copy of last Wednesday's Daily News when they stumbled on a story about Trooper McLaren, written by historian John Telfer.
"It was just luck - I couldn't believe it," Mrs Yeo said.
"My husband turned to me and said this is the guy the medal belongs to."
After getting in touch with John Telfer, the Yeos were able to present the medal to Trooper McLaren's great-niece Arlene Jenkins.
Mrs Jenkins and her sister Carol Hawken, both Warwick residents, were overjoyed to finally find the medals after years of searching.
"I thought all his medals were buried with him," she said.
"I just have copies of his other medals." The medal is the final puzzle piece in Mrs Jenkins emotional quest to trace her genealogy.
The New South Wales-born Trooper's medals will be restored complete with the ribbon and bars by his family.
