ON the centenary of the Armistice Michael Furmston clutched a piece of his family's history which had been buried for decades since the war.

It was a World War One campaign medal, which belonged to Herbert Furmston, one of the war's forgotten heroes, a rifleman with from a Liverpool regiment - who was his grandfather's brother's son.

Metal detectorist Justin Critchlow discovered the medal in Leek, Staffordshire, this summer, and set about trying to find the soldier's family.

A message he posted on Facebook was shared more than 8,000 times and word soon reached Michael, of Kingmoor Terrace, Carlisle, who collected the medal on Friday.

"I felt quite emotional because it was something to see the Furmston name, knowing what those lads had been through," said Michael, 63.

"I went to the Remembrance service on Sunday and stood with it.

"I took the medal with pride and I'm ever so pleased it has been found and is going to stay with a Furmston.

"Someone could have just found it and sold it on.

"But Justin got so many hits and so many people were trying to help him find a family member."

The solid silver British War Medal, which was given to every soldier who served during WWI, is engraved with the Furmston name.

It was found about eight inches below the soil in a field near a watering hole, close to a farm where its believed he stayed.

"Whether it has fallen out of his pocket, or he has taken a tumble with the ladies, who knows," said Michael.

Herbert survived the war but died leaving no known children, though he did have brothers and sisters.

Justin said: "He served three times in WW1 with the last being cut short due to failing health. He was down as a diseased man, maybe due to his 4ft 10" frame but it clearly didn't stop him being a hero and also very skilled blacksmith.

"Winning himself victory medals as well as this one I found, he was a true forgotten hero, as many were."

There are still a few loose ends and Michael is hoping to find out more about Herbert, as many of his family were in reserved occupations and therefore not required to serve.

He believes he signed up from Shropshire or Staffordshire, where some of his family are still based.

There are no photos of Herbert but it's hoped if they can trace anymore distant relatives, someone may have one stowed away.

Michael plans to get a clasp and a ribbon for the medal, which will stay with him, and then his family, unless a closer relative comes forward.