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Medals unite a family

Peter Bannan

World War I medals reported missing in 1939 were finally returned to the family of war hero Joseph Edward Birch at the weekend.

When Swan Hill local and registered nurse Leanne Egan found war medals in her fathers shed, she soon discovered that the medals were in fact not her grandfather’s, as she had originally assumed.

Teaming up with Swan Hill RSL past vice president Wayne Munro and Piangil RSL genealogist Leeta Rutherford, Ms Egan “went on a mission” to find the real owner.

After a year of searching, Mrs Rutherford tracked down the family of the deceased J E Birch and in the process helped reunite a family.

Ms Rutherford said Mr Birch’s granddaughter Laura Vagg came to collect the medals with friends and family members on Saturday at the Swan Hill RSL.

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