RESEARCH into a family history by a Lincolnshire couple and a woman from Ware has revealed a fascinating link between a first world war soldier from Sampford Courtenay — and a London rubbish skip 'find'.

The tale began 50 years ago, when a bronze 'death penny' was found in a Shoreditch skip by a plumber.

A 'dead man's penny' was issued to the next of kin of servicemen who fought in the Great War. They were sent to the family with any medals, following the initial telegram informing relatives of the death of a loved one.

The coin in the skip showed it was in honour of one Henry Vivian Drew — a soldier who had fought and died in Flanders.

Henry, who had joined the 10th Royal Fusiliers, died in battle in Flanders on April 23, 1917.

Fifty years passed and the plumber's daughter, Jill Gumble of Ware, who used to polish the metal memorial as a child, wanted to find out if there were any living relatives of Henry Vivian Drew. 

There followed an exhaustive trawl of websites such as the Great War Forum and Genes Reunited, a search gradually involving around 20 people.

Eventually, the trail led to Roger Brook, from Methringham near Lincoln.

Roger had started to research the family history of his wife Pam three years ago.

Pam's father was John Vivian Drew — the twin brother of Henry.

Now thanks to the research, the Brooks have been re-united with the death penny.

The Drew twins were the sons of Henry Vivian Drew and Caroline Hexter and were born on Halford Farm, Sampford Courtenay in 1897.

They both joined up in Stockton-on-Tees, where they had gone to join up in the merchant navy but ended up in the army — Henry as a fusilier and John (known as Jack) as a machine gunner.  

Unfortunately Henry was killed on St George's Day, 1917.

He is buried in Chille Trench in Chaverelle, France, which Pam and Roger hope to visit one day.

John survived the war and went on to be fortunate himself. 

As a merchant navy engineering officer in the second world war, the ships he was serving on were twice torpedoed by German submarines.

John's daughter Pam knew nothing about her father's twin brother before her husband delved into her family's past.

Roger said: 'The actual tracing via the Great War Forum was a wonderful one via many people who cared and wanted to help. 

'We had the letter that was sent with the memorial but were not aware of the plaque that was sent with it at the time.

'It was cast in bronze gun metal with just the name of the casualty on it.

'It was so moving when it arrived to think that Pam's grandmother was the the recipient of such sad news, and before the research, we did not even know her grandmother's name.

'It was the only thing that Pam had touched that had also been touched by Caroline Drew, Pam's grandmother.'

The Brooks said they were so grateful to Jill Gumble who worked so hard for it to be sent 'home' to the family of the 'not so forgotten' World War One soldier from Sampford Courtenay.

Pam said: 'I'm so delighted.

'I had never heard of the death penny before this and it was so interesting to hear about Henry. 

'My husband Roger must take the credit.  Since his research we have been contacted by so many people including someone from Canada. 

'Our friends have been fascinated by the death penny and I even say goodnight to it for luck before I go to bed!'

l Caroline, the twins' mother, died in 1927 in Islington, London.

She was born in 1872 in Mamhead, Devon.

Her husband Henry Vivian Drew was born 1869 in Okehampton and died 1910; he lived at 3, Castle Road between 1851 and 1861.

Roger and Pam would be grateful for any further information about their family.

They can be contacted by email on [email protected]">[email protected] or calling 01526 323363.