A MEDALLION struck in honour of two brothers who died in the First World War has been returned to the family.

At the end of the war Lydney Council decided to mark the sacrifice of local men who died with a special medallion.

Among those who received the tribute was Mrs Emma Dowdeswell of Memorial Houses, Lydney whose sons, Francis and Reginald, were killed in action in France – both at the age of 24.

Francis, a private in the Gloucestershire Regiment, was killed on May 9, 1915 and his brother, a private in the Royal West Kent Regiment died on September 18, 1918.

The medallion was presented to the Lydney branch of the Royal British Legion at a special dinner hosted by Melville Watts in 1987.

After the Legion club in Hill Street closed in 2014, discussions took place with the Dowdeswell about what should happen to the medallion.

It was decided it should go back to the family and a presentation took place on Friday, April 1 when it was given to Emma Dowdeswell’s great-grandson, Martin, his wife Linda and granddaughter Elisha.