A HEREFORD war hero's medals are set to go up for auction, with a bid launched to bring them back.

The Herefordshire Light Infantry Museum is seeking support to acquire the medals of a local hero which will be offered for sale by a London auction house.

John Bertram Symonds lived at Aylestone Hill, Hereford and joined the Herefordshire Regiment at the outbreak of The First World War in 1914. He was soon promoted to Corporal and served with the Battalion at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli. He then went on to serve in the Middle East, including locations at Gaza, Rafah and Kahn Younis, before moving to the Western Front in July 1918.

Cpl Symonds was awarded the Military Medal  in July 1917, Mentioned in Despatches in January 1918 and the Distinguished Conduct Medal in February 1918. The citation for his DCM said: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an action. Cpl Symonds showed great courage in crossing an exposed piece of ground under very heavy rifle fire to obtain an important message from a runner who was lying wounded in the open."

On July 23, 1918, the Herefords took part in an attack to the south of Soissons, their first in France. They suffered some 238 casualties from machine-gun fire whilst advancing through high-standing corn. Sadly, John Symonds was one of those killed.

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Today, he lies buried at Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire and is commemorated on Tupsley War Memorial.

This local hero’s medals are being sold by auction in February and the museum is keen to bring them to his home city and put them on display. They will accompany the medals of Lt Col WF Chipp, the regiment’s most decorated officer.

If you are able to support this appeal then please contact the museum curator at hfdlimuseum@gmail.com or contact the museum at Suvla Barracks, Harold St, Hereford HR1 2QX.