Sleuths solve medal mystery
Police officer and amateur sleuth Dave Tadic has traced the family who own a World War I medal found in Broome by a young girl on her way to class.
Cable Beach Primary School pupil Courtney Anderson, 8, made the discovery in August and immediately handed the accolade to her teacher.
The only clue to solving the mystery of ownership was the name Donovan Winter inscribed on the rim.
Sgt Tadic's four-month search has taken him from the Kimberley town to South Australia where information from the SA Genealogy Society led him to Susan Gray, the grand- daughter of Pte Winter.
A number of medals were stolen from her home in Port Pirie about five years ago.
Two were found in Coober Pedy in 2012 and were returned after being featured in an Anzac Day memorial in the community.
Sgt Tadic said Ms Gray was pleased to have the medals returned.
"I am very happy that the medals have been reunited with the family and will advise the finder of this progress," he said.
Pte Winter was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the field. He served in several theatres during the war including Gallipoli, Suez Canal and France and was wounded in action at least four times.
Discharged in 1919, Pte Winter married and had two daughters. He died in 1983.
Sgt Tadic's initial inquiries revealed Pte Winter was an 18-year-old soldier from Port Wakefield, who served with the 27th Battalion Australian Imperial Forces.
