Family given dog tags back

THRILLED: Ewan Thom with the tags returned to the family fold after a century. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Soldier's story prompts kind act

A story of incredible bravery published over a year ago in the Times-Age has prompted an act of generosity that has made a Masterton man's day.

Ewan Thom, grandson of World War I survivor Wilfred Stone, was astonished to learn the old soldier's dog tags had not only survived over the decades but were in the possession of journalist Pat Dowd, of Te Aroha.

Furthermore Mr Dowd, who writes for New Zealand Outdoor Hunting magazine, was happy to gift the dog tags to him having read a moving account of the 1915 sinking of the HMTS Marquette and Mr Stone's heroic role in saving several nurses and soldiers who were aboard the hospital ship that was also carrying troops.

Last August the Times-Age published a letter Mr Stone had sent home to his wife in the immediate aftermath of the sinking of the ship by a torpedo from a German U-boat in the Aegean Sea.

Mr Dowd caught up with the story months later and realised dog tags he had bought to augment his collection of war memorabilia were those issued to Wilfred Stone.

He telephoned the Times-Age asking the newspaper to contact Mr Thom offering to gift the dog tags to him even though they would be worth about $120.

The dog tags had been bought by Mr Dowd from a couple up north but, unfortunately the husband had dementia and was unable to recall how he had come upon them or anything to do with their earlier history.

Mr Thom said he was delighted to learn of the discovery and had spoken by telephone to Mr Dowd.

"He was only too happy to give them to me and wouldn't take anything for them," Mr Thom said.

The dog tags are in excellent order being made of electro-plated silver and arrived in the mail to Mr Thom only days before the centenary of the sinking of HMTS Marquette.

They have Mr Stone's name, regimental number and acknowledgement of him being in the New Zealand Medical Corp.

There is also a single capital H embossed on one of the two tags, the significance of which is not known.

After surviving the ordeal of the ship sinking Mr Stone rejoined the war as a medic on the Western front.

Mr Thom said the dog tags will join his grandfather's pen and ink drawings.

"He was an excellent artist."