AddThis SmartLayers

Reunion follows war feature

Sid Chandler enjoyed his happiest Christmas in years after an appearance in the Leicester Mercury led to an emotional reunion.

The 86-year-old from Loughborough was featured after finally discovering how his father died in France while fighting in the First World War.

And that article was spotted by his 92-year-old Aunt Minnie, from Leicester, who hadn’t seen Sid for more than 50 years.

Her son, Alan, contacted the Mercury and a reunion was arranged between the pair, allowing both to meet family members that they never knew existed.

At the meeting, Minnie also handed Sid one of his father’s war medals.

Sid had already found two medals and had been searching for the third and final one for decades.

He said: “It’s marvellous to have all three. I can’t believe I’ve finally got it.

“I never thought I’d see Aunt Min again. It’s marvellous. It’s a lovely Christmas present. We won’t lose touch again.”

Minnie said: “We had lost touch and didn’t know that we still had each other; but I’m so glad we have.”

Sid had only known only that his father, Private Richard Chandler, had gone missing in action.

But Sid’s great nephew, Ty Smith, found his name on a memorial in France and discovered he was killed in 1915 in an attack near Loos-en-Gohelle.

Do you have a story for us?
Ring the HoldTheFrontPage newsdesk on
01332 291111 x6022, or to e-mail us now – click here