A metal detecting group from Dover discovered a First World War medal and returned it to the owner’s granddaughter.

Members of The Royal Phoenix Detecting Group were searching the area near Elvington in November 2013, when Frederik Olivier, 33, from Folkestone, found the gold medal.

It was in surprisingly good condition with the words Prudhoe Working Men’s Social Club on top and H. Lynch for His Services to His Country in the Great War – 1919 engraved on the bottom.

On Tuesday, the group were able to reunite the medal with the granddaughter of Henry Lynch, Maria Lynch, who travelled from Queensland, Australia, to learn more about her family history after they tracked her down.

Paul Shrubb, public relations officer, said: “As you will appreciate this was the only welcome item of wartime memorabilia found on that autumn day in 2013, the year before the centenary of the start of the First World War.

“It wasn’t long before all 15 members were huddled round in awe and intrigue at this beautiful golden discovery.

“The events which unfolded next are a shining example of how we as metal detectorists can help piece together the missing parts of our history and as in the case of this story, uncover a side of someone’s family that they didn’t know existed.”

Mr Olivier and member Brian Smith contacted Prudhoe & District Local History Society and found gold medals were given to those who had served abroad.

Henry Lynch was from Prudhoe in Northumberland and a lance corporal in the 4th Battalion of The Northumberland Fusiliers.

After the war, Henry and wife Gertrude moved to Dover. He worked in the Kent Coalfield.

They had three children, Patrick, Peter and Harry. Henry was president of Dover and District Trades Council and Tilmanstone’s delegate for the Kent Mine Workers Association.

During the Second World War, he became chief air raid precautions officer for Elvington. He died in 1966, a year after Maria was born to youngest son Harry.

This research was carried out by the society and his granddaughter had little information until then, having emigrated to Australia aged 15 and losing members of her close family quite young.

Mr Shrubb said: “Not only has Maria been able to learn more about her grandfather, Henry, she too has gained family in the north east of England to include her grandfather’s 91-year-old niece, Nella Callender, and her sister, Doreen Lynch, 86.

“Maria, at 49, said this couldn’t have come at a better time for her having lost most immediate members of her family.”

Maria travelled to England and on Tuesday met with the group in Dover where Mr Olivier gave her the medal.

Mr Shrubb said: “It was a wonderful evening and the icing on the cake for medal finder Frederik Olivier was to be awarded Find of The Year for his unusual and fabulous discovery.”