Historian Reunites Second World War Medals with Family in England

A Saskatchewan historian has successfully connected a set of Second World War medals with the family of their original owner, British sailor George Mann. The medals, along with two photographs, were discovered in the possession of a collector in Edmonton, Canada, but their journey to that point remains unclear.

After four months of extensive research, John Brady McDonald traced Mann’s lineage to Liverpool, England. His efforts culminated in a significant breakthrough when he reached out to Mann’s great-niece, Jane Craig. She expressed surprise and delight upon learning about her great-uncle’s medals, having previously known little about him. “I knew of him and obviously knew that he was in the war, but that’s all I really knew,” Craig stated.

McDonald’s mission began with the aim of reuniting Mann’s family with the medals that represented his service in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary during the Second World War. After confirming the family connection, McDonald promptly mailed the items to Craig, who anticipates their arrival next week. “He’s doing such an amazing thing,” she remarked about McDonald’s dedication.

The Story Behind George Mann

Born in 1905 in Liverpool, England, George Mann served as a sailor in the Royal Navy. His military career included participation in critical operations across the Atlantic, Africa, France, and Germany. After the war, Mann immigrated to Canada where he married Alice Margaret Silver in 1948. He never returned to England and had no children, leaving his closest living relative as Craig’s mother, Mann’s niece.

McDonald detailed the significance of the medals, stating, “They tell the story of where he served and what he did while he was serving.” The medals he received reflect his contributions to the Allied convoys during the war, which were essential for supplying forces across various fronts. Notably, the uniform depicted in the photographs indicates that Mann held an officer rank.

As a historian, McDonald has successfully reunited ten sets of medals with families in Canada, but this case stands out as his first international connection. His search for Mann’s family gained momentum after news stories highlighted his quest, resulting in an influx of tips and leads. Collaborating with a contact who had better access to genealogy databases ultimately led him to Craig.

Preserving Veterans’ Legacies

Reflecting on the importance of his work, McDonald noted, “Every day we lose those first-person perspectives to the Second World War.” He believes that reconnecting families with their ancestors’ legacies fills a crucial gap in historical understanding. He currently has three additional sets of medals from the First World War, Second World War, and Korean War that he is also striving to return to their rightful families.

Through his efforts, McDonald aims not only to honor the sacrifices made by veterans but also to ensure their stories are remembered and appreciated by future generations. The successful reunion of George Mann’s medals with his family underscores the enduring connection between history and personal legacy.