A TREASURE hunter is anxious to trace relatives of a Great War veteran following a historic find in a Dorset field.

Metal detector enthusiast Jason Carter-Jones uncovered the First World War medal, with the name HG Bristow inscribed, on land at Langton Matravers.

The 39-year-old financial services managing director says he’d like nothing more than to reunite the medal with a living relative of the man who was awarded it.

“Its monetary value is absolutely nothing but it has intrinsic value,” said Mr Carter-Jones.

“I found it about an inch under the ground and it would be lovely to return it to a relative.”

All medals issued by the War Office had accompanying medal cards, so Mr Carter-Jones checked records and has established it is a First World War British Red Cross Society and Order of St John of Jerusalem medal, awarded to a Harry G Bristow.

“So he may have either been a medic or an ambulanceman,” said the married dad-of-two.

He added: “We know this particular field where it was found was a camp during the Second World War, but, of course, we don’t know what the activity in the field was during the First World War.

“By checking records I’ve been able to find two HG Bristows, both born in 1889, but there’s only one recorded death of a HG Bristow and that is in Berkshire in 1961.

“If he was born in 1889, he’d have been around 53 when the field was being used ahead of the D-Day landings in the Second World War.

“So it’s doubtful he’d have been eligible for active service. However, he may have been eligible for home service in a reserved occupation, as an ambulance man.”

If you can help Mr Carter-Jones email him at jason@jtmfs.com or call the Echo newsdesk on 01305 830999.