TOPIC:

Many years ago, in a swap with friend and fellow collector, Brian Conningham, I acquired a group to Nicholas Cahill comprising a QSA to the SA Light Horse and a WWI pair to the very desirable 26 (SA) Squadron, RFC for German East Africa. Brian had bought the group from a dealer in Howick and hadn't done any research at the time the swap took place.



Having sourced Cahill's WWI papers from the SANDF Archives in Pretoria it soon became apparent that his 1914-15 Star to the 2nd Imperial Light Horse was missing. This would normally sound the death knell for any group but, despite Brian's willingness to take the medals back, I demurred and kept them.



About three weeks ago Brian phoned me - Thinus Conradie a dealer and fellow collector had been trying to get hold of me. They had some very exciting news - Cahill's 1914-15 Star had marched into Thinus's possession, along with some other medals and, having scoured the internet for clues, he had found this post www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-...icholas-cahill#76670 - hence his desire to contact me.



Cahill, or his family, had mounted the 1914-15 Star with his son William Nicolas' WWI/WWII group. The Star was clearly named to N. Cahill but they must have thought it "looked complete" in William's group!

Thinus and I spoke, the deal was done and I took receipt of Cahill's Star a few days ago and have proudly added it to his other medals. I like to think, whimsically, that Nicholas Cahill is now resting easy, with all his medals in one place and in the hands of a collector who appreciates them.

Thank you Thinus and thank you Brian.



There are, I feel, two lessons to be learned here - the first is that, don't be afraid to "publish" your recipients' stories - if they are not in the public domain nobody will know to contact you with, in this case, a re-unite. And secondly, don't give up on looking for missing medals, they have a strange habit of coming knocking when you least expect it!

A nice early Christmas present to self.

What a great story! I have yet to get a reunite in over 45 years of collecting, but stories like this keeps the flame of hope alive! Well done to all!