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

Metal detector enthusiast Jason Carter-Jones uncovered the World War I medal – with the name H G Bristow inscribed – from land at Langton Matravers.

The 39-year-old financial services managing director, from Poole, 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,” he said.

“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 ambulance man,” said the married dad-of-two.

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

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

“If he was born in 1889, he’d of 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 with his search email Mr Carter-Jones at jason@jtmfs.com