A RARE set of war medals revealing a tale of heroism from The First World War have been donated to the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum.

The four medals were given to the Woodstock museum by Oxfordshire born Derek Hoddinott, whose great uncle Ralph Hoddinott served in the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars.

One of the medals, the Military Medal, was the highest accolade that could be awarded to a soldier below officer rank, and it is believed the soldier was awarded it for an act of extreme bravery on the front line in France.

Mr Hoddinott, 71, was indebted to the museum after it helped him find out more about his great uncle.

His curiosity started when his father died in 2001 and left him an engraved silver cigarette box containing the medals.

The father of two, who now lives in Middlesex with his wife Rosemary, visited The National Archives at Kew and investigated the regiment’s military history.

He then sought further help from volunteers at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock, which helps people trace their relative’s military career.

Oxford Mail:

  • Ralph Hoddinott

Mr Hoddinott, who was raised on his father’s farms in Worminghall and Appleton in Oxfordshire, said of his great uncle: “I always knew of his existence but we never saw much of him.

“When my father died, I ended up with a silver cigarette box with the regimental crest which was given to him on the occasion of his marriage to Florence.

“Inside were the medals and a dog tag and a cap badge.

“It got put in a drawer, but when my wife was looking into her own father’s war records we thought we should find out about the medals and we wanted to know what he got the Military Medal for.

“Through the archives at Kew and the museum we found out he enlisted in Oxfordshire in 1914. He was promoted to lance corporal in 1915, corporal in 1916 and also sergeant in 1916.

“The Military Medal is very special as it is the highest accolade that someone can receive below officer rank.

“We don’t know why he actually got it but it’s thought it was during the battle of St Quentin in 1918.”

Ralph was based on the Western Front throughout the war. He returned to Britain on a hospital ship in 1918 after being shot in the left buttock. He recovered from the injury and returned to his Oxfordshire farm at Ickford near Thame, where he stayed until he died in 1965.

“We decided to let them have the medals where they could be on display and seen by everyone rather than being stuck in a box,” said Mr Hoddinott.

Museum director Ursula Corcoran said: “We are very happy that the medals will be in a place where they can be looked after and used for people’s research.”

The other medals donated are British War Medal, awarded to those who served in the First World War; a 1914 Star, for service in France or Belgium between August 5 and November 22 1914; and and a Silver War Badge, awarded to those discharged due to their wounds.