A Dead Man's Penny, presented to families of soldiers killed in World War I, has made its way to the hometown of William Joseph Gordon in a bizarre chain of events.
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Military records show Private Gordon died in action at Bullecourt in France in 1917 at the age of 29 with his parents being Charles and Caroline Gordon, who lived at Vermont Orchard, Wodonga.
Documents handed to Wodonga RSL sub-branch show the memorial plaque cast in bronze was presented to Mrs Gordon in 1922.
More than five decades later, the plaque was discovered at the Horsham tip and retained by its finder, Barry Mackley, for a further 40 years before he delivered it to Wodonga in recent months.
"How it got to Horsham I don't know," he said.
"It's no good to me, he is not a relative of mine.
"Wodonga is the rightful home for it."
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A search has commenced to find any of Private Gordon's descendants.
"In a perfect world a member of the family will get in contact with us so we can hand it over at a special presentation we would be happy to hold when we are allowed to," Wodonga RSL sub-branch president Jim Begley said.
"We would also love to know more about his story.
"It doesn't seem right that all you got for your son losing their life in battle was this penny.
"But it was pretty rugged in those days and it also makes me wonder how it ended up in a tip given its significance.
"If it was yours or mine you would cherish it."
Mr Begley said the sub-branch had sought assistance from Wodonga Historical Society to track down any family members, who might be still living locally.
But the search to date has been futile.
In the event a family member doesn't come forward and claim the penny, the sub-branch would ensure it was prominently displayed alongside three other Dead Man Pennies already at its headquarters..
Private Gordon, a farmer, enlisted in the army in October 1915 and left for duty overseas from Melbourne aboard HMAT Wiltshire and initially landed in Egypt.
The documents in possession of the Wodonga sub-branch also include a letter dated October 1920 in response to a request from Mrs Gordon about any "personal effects" belonging to her son.
"The kit bag, being part of the Military equipment and the property of the government, would not be returned, but any articles of sentimental value would have been extracted and forwarded," the letter states.
"However, advice from A.I.F. Headquarters, London, states that no effects were found in deceased's kit bag, held in store."
