THOMAS Finney has bridged two world wars and sealed an 84-year gap.
For the pensioner of Princess Avenue, Windlehurst, has acquired first world war medals awarded posthumously to the heroic father he never knew.
Thomas was just a babe in arms back in 1917 when his dad, Rifleman Thomas Finney of Park Road, St Helens, was killed in the front line at Passchendael, cut down in a withering hail of German bullets. He was just 23 years old.
The medals, secured after Mr Finney's son, John, had put an enquiry to the Army medals office at Droitwich, represent the 84-year-old's only touchpoint with his gallant dad. For no family photographs or additional details about the Great War victim are believed to exist.
The rifleman's four awards are the Victory Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and an oversized coin-shaped medal which were issued to bereaved families and universally known as 'the Widow's Penny'.
They can now be added to the four campaign medals that son, Thomas Finney Jr. gained during the second world war. He served abroad for more than four years and was with the 8th Army -- of glorious 'Desert Rats' fame.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article