Relatives of two soldiers killed in World War I have finally tracked down their lost honours after years of searching – both in the north-east and Down Under.
Alexander Ellis and his brother John were killed in action while serving with the Gordon Highlanders in France.
Two memorial plaques – more commonly known as Dead Man’s Pennies – were sent to their parents in recognition of their sacrifice, and they took pride of place on the mantelpiece in the family home at Parkhill, Dyce, until they moved to Australia.
The Ellis family never saw the 5in bronze tokens again – until Kemnay man Bill Blackie discovered them in a box in his loft and contacted the Press and Journal last week for help in finding their rightful owners. Yesterday Irvine Ellis, the great-nephew of Alexander and John, met Mr Blackie to collect the pennies.
Mr Ellis, 54, of Blackburn near Aberdeen, said: “It was good to see them and hold them, I had a lump in my throat.
“We’ve been looking for them for quite a number of years. I’ve got quite a few relatives in Australia, but they said they couldn’t find the pennies anywhere and now we know why – they had been left behind when they moved. These are family heirlooms and it’s nice to have them back.”
The brothers, who had six other siblings, were originally from the Aboyne area although their parents later moved to Dyce. Alexander was 21 when he died in 1916. His 23-year-old brother John died two years later.
As well as the plaques, two medals also sat on the mantelpiece until their family emigrated to Australia in 1968.
Mr Blackie’s parents bought the cottage, but it wasn’t until 1999 that he discovered the pennies – but put them in his own loft and forgot about them until earlier this year.
The 73-year-old then decided the war centenary was the ideal time to find their owners and contacted the P&J. The story was spotted by Mr Ellis’ aunt in Alford, who wasted no time in letting the family know the pennies had turned up. Mr Blackie said: “I’m really chuffed I’ve been able to hand the pennies back and give them a nice ending to the story.”