Wars have been a significant aspect of human society for thousands of years. In 1914 H G Wells called World War One ‘The war that will end war’.

As we all know he was very wrong. By 1918 the phrase was variously changed, and the most common version was “the war to end all wars”. Initially, it was simply called The Great War, it didn’t become known as the First World War until the start of the Second World War in 1939.

It began with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie in June 1918 in Sarajevo. The first attempt to assassinate the archduke that day didn’t succeed. A grenade was thrown at a motorcade carrying him and his wife. It missed his car but killed and injured others. Later in the day, the archduke was returning home having visited some of the injured in the hospital.

The car took a wrong turn and, as luck (more like bad luck) would have it, one of the assassins was in the street. He drew his pistol and killed the archduke and his wife.

This act directly led to a major diplomatic crisis between Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, France and Britain. Demands were made, as were threats, and by August 4, when an ultimatum for Germany to respect the neutrality of Belgium expired, war had broken out.

Another popular “fact” about the Great War is the idea that it would “all be over by Christmas”. There’s no doubt these sentiments were shared, even talked about by military leaders. In Germany the popular saying was that the war would be over by the time the leaves fall.

As with all these sayings, while there is a large element of truth in them, but it was also much more complex in real life. The troops on the ground were being kept psychologically in better spirits by the idea, but the high number of casualties and deaths was self-evident.

All in all, around 20 million military personnel and civilians died as a direct result of the war. In addition, there were another 21 million casualties.

After the war ended three medals were commonly awarded to those who had a part to play, a bronze star, a silver British War medal and the allied Victory medal commonly known as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.

I keep my grandfather’s WWI medals along with a George Medal he earned for bravery in the field. He had other defence medals for his time serving in the Home Guard in WWII. I’m lucky enough to remember him and I have fond memories of times helping in his garden, going on Sunday walks, and playing card games.

I still remember him polishing his shoes and medals before taking part in the town remembrance parade, proudly carrying the banner for his regiment in honour of his fallen comrades.

He never talked to me about the war. For one thing I was too young, but as an adult I learned more about his time as a soldier. He was in the Royal Artillery and served as a gunner. Inevitably this means his job was to shoot at the enemy, no doubt injuring and killing some of them. I learned how he was promoted to sergeant after his defence of a gun post where he was the last man standing – an act of bravery that won him the George Medal.

While clearing up our garden and having some work done, my wife came across a WWI medal buried in the dirt. We cleaned it up and, just like my grandfather’s medal, there is a name inscribed on the rim. I’d love to reunite the medal found in our garden with the family and descendants of its owner.

The medal was awarded to driver Matthew E Mathews who was in the Royal Engineers and who became a private, serving for just over three years. He was, I believe, medically discharged in March 1918 and was 35 years of age.

Every person who served – from gunners to drivers to medical staff had a vital role to play. Each element of the Army or other Armed Forces depended on each other.

I’ve no idea if Private Matthews was a resident of Brighton, or just a visitor who lost his medal by accident. The medal isn’t in the best of condition, but it may have meaning for a family. It would be great to reunite them.

l If you’re a descendant of or know the family of Matthew Mathews, who was probably born around 1882, you can get in touch with The Argus by emailing news@theargus.co.uk or with James Williams via his twitter account @edujdw

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