A SWANSEA Valley woman's appeal for the return of her uncle's First World War medals has been answered.

Anne Phillips was curious as to the whereabouts of the medals of Lance Corporal Joseph Peter Camphouser, who was killed in action at the Battle of Fustebert in May 1915. But no longer, at least as far as two of them are concerned.

Her appeal in Looking Back earlier this month prompted P Gronow, of Waunarlwydd, to come forward with the pair.

"I now have the medals in my possession," said Mrs Phillips, of Heol Camlan, Birchgrove. "I cannot thank him enough for his kind gesture in recovering these precious medals."

Mr Gronow is a keen military medal collector and picked them up at a specialist fair a few years ago, but was only too happy to return them to the family when he saw the appeal.

Mrs Philips now intends passing them on to Lance Corporal Camphouser's grandchildren in Bedford, although her search has not concluded.

"One medal has still to be recovered and that is the 1918 Silver Star, and also the bronze plaque that was presented to the next of kin," she said. "I hope there is someone else out there who has knowledge of their whereabouts too."

Lance Corporal Camphouser was reported as missing in action following the Battle of Fustebert and had no known grave.

Mrs Phillips recently travelled to northern France and, with the help of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, managed to find his name on the memorial to the missing in the military cemetery at La Touret.

His name is also commemorated on the war memorial on the promenade at Swansea beach.

Anyone who can help Mrs Phillips track down the remaining items can contact her on 01792 416382.