Bargain Hunt presenter Christina Trevanion burst into tears on the programme as she opened up about her “hero” grandfather and his military medals.
The 42-year-old was in Leominster, Herefordshire for the episode which repeated on BBC One this afternoon (April 17) when she paid a visit to a militaria expert. She took her grandfathers war medals with her to find out more about their meaning and value.
But while she was learning much about her family history, Christina struggled to hold back tears thinking about her “hero” grandfather, Gerald Arthur Stacey. She said: “I’ve brought along my great-grandfather’s medals.
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(Image: BBC)
“He’s a bit of a family hero, Gerald Arthur Stacey, bless him. He was my granny’s father. And I was hoping that you might be able to tell me a bit more about them.”
Expert Steve Nuwar responded by saying that Gerald wasn’t just a “family hero” as he believes he was actually a “significant” soldier who served under the Second Battalion London Regiment of the Royal Fusiliers. “He reaches the rank of Major but he’s actually second in command of that battalion,” he added.
(Image: BBC)
He was awarded a Distinguished Service Order medal, an award for officers conferred by King George V and the Legion D’Honneur, the highest order of merit conferred by the President of France. “To have both of these and the fact you’ve kept them in the family is fantastic,” he said.
To which Christina replied: “They were very, very loved by my granny which is why his death penny is worn away.”
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But it turns out her great-grandfather never received his World War One medals when he was alive, according to records. Christina looked devastated to hear he had been injured during his service in July 1915, so he was owed the 14/15 star.
He was also owed the MiD oakleaf and was a three-times decorated soldier. However, he was killed in 1916.
(Image: BBC)
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“I always remembered talking to granny about it because when he was killed in 1916, he left a very loving wife and four children,” she said, before tearing up, saying: “Oh, I’m going to cry. I can’t cry! Pull yourself together.”
The historian also found of that her grandmother was Gerald’s daughter Molly, who lived until she was 109 – making her one of the top 25 longest-living people in the UK.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
