THE search is on for the rightful owner of a lost First World War medallion, which belonged to a soldier from Worcestershire, but has been in Australia for more than 50 years.

The medal, which was found in Victoria, Australia, belonged to soldier, Private William Bertie Ballinger.

Danny Forde, from Victoria, discovered the medallion from a garage sale.

It was rusty and faded, however when he read the inscription “The Great War for Civilisation 1914 – 1919”, he realised it was an old war medal.

Mr Forde held on to the medallion for over 50 years in the hope of finding the living family descendants of Private Ballinger. He has now sent it to the Worcester News and asked us to help with the search.

He said: “I hope the home is found for this man’s medal. From information that I have received we believe he died in Mesopotamia, in Asia.”

According to war records, Private Ballinger was born in Worcestershire in 1880 and was the son of Sarah Ann Ballinger and Thomas Ballinger.

He was part of the 39th Battalion and was recruited when he was 36 years old in Worcestershire on April 20, 1916.

It is not known how or when Private Ballinger died or how his medal ended up in Victoria.

Anybody who has any information on the medal can contact Worcester News reporter Grace Walton on grace.walton@newsquest.co.uk.