An enthusiastic family historian who discovered a war medal in her late father’s junk box wants to return it to its rightful owners.

Lynn Coomber found a bronze First World War Victory Medal engraved as belonging to L Keell, a Petty Officer in the Royal Navy.

After some detective work, she found it was given to Leonard G Keell, born in Greenwich in 1876, as part of a set of three.

Lynn, of Lonsdale Drive, Sittingbourne, said her father Graham Coomber was a keen metal-detectorist and had a keen interest in coins.

The 41-year-old said she remembers him coming home with it about 10 years ago. “It’s got no ribbon and is quite tarnished but the name is clearly engraved on the side.

“I just want to return this to the family because it’s horrible to think that it’s in my home when it could be in theirs.

“From what I can gather, Leonard married Edith Annie Preston in Milton in 1920.”

According to a family history website, Edith was born in 1885 in Sittingbourne and died in 1960 aged 75.

Leonard died aged 68 in 1944 in Sittingbourne but Miss Coomber has not found any evidence the pair had any children.

She added: “In 1901 Edith was visiting a family called Ransom.

“Ransom is a big name in the area, I went to school with people with that name and now I’ve found the connections to Sittingbourne and Milton, I thought it might jog someone’s memory.”

The mum-of-one thinks her father found the medal in either Sittingbourne or along the north Kent coast.

“It would be wonderful to give it back especially since it’s almost 100 years since Leonard received it,” she said.

If you are related to Leonard Keell or know anyone who is call 01795 580300 or email sittingbourne@thekmgroup.co.uk