I would like another opinion to help me decide on the best coarse of action to take. (A short version of what happened. Naming no one. ) Browsing through the web I came across a letter about a 1 WW Navy Sailor who had travelled across dangerous territory in civvies to reach home after a mission at a British Embassy, who later, after re-joining his fleet, lost his life at the battle of Jutland.) This person who wrote the story was the grandson of this sailor and has various documents and papers and the condolence message from the King, and photos of him.
My Problem is, going through my small collection of medals I discover I had this sailors medals,
1914/15 Star, War Medal , Victory Medal and Long Service Medal which has the name of the war ship on which he died.
I have had this group for over 50 years.
I feel in all conscious that they should be returned to the familly, ( if I could find them) am I duty bound to return them free or offer them for sale and see if they are interested, at the present I have not known how to contact them, so they have no idea about them. Is there a law that say they belong to the family and should be returned. After so long I would like to keep them but my head tells me am I being disrespectful.
Has anyone else been in this position, I would like to hear.