It has been lovingly restored, re-ribboned and framed, but the story of a precious medal awarded a Black Country soldier remains as murky as the smoky battlefields of Europe on which it was won.

John Malpass, who lives in Harcourt Drive in Lower Gornal, is desperate to find out what act of bravery won his grandfather James Yates-Westwood the Military Medal.

Mr Yates-Westwood, who worked as a stone mason for Hartills in Sedgley, was a well-known character in the town, even having a gold pocket watch presented to him by its mayor in 1921.

But Mr Malpass, aged 62, knew little of his grandfather because he died in 1949, and has no idea why the watch was presented.

All he has to remember his grandfather by are the Military Medal and two other awards, the watch and an army photo of him in a victorious tug-of-war team.

Mr Malpass is very much aware that with every year which passes, his chance to find out more about his mysterious grandfather slips away.

“He was born in 1889, so it’s a long time ago,” he says. “My uncle, his son, gave me the medals, including the Military Medal.

“It was in an old cigar box for 30 years – I was absolutely thrilled to bits to have it, I just had to mount it properly in a case because I thought it deserved better.”

Mr Malpass spent £100 on having the three medals restored and the picture, as well as his grandfather’s army orders, mounted.

But he still has no clue as to why his grandfather was awarded the medal, or why he was presented with the watch – which still works perfectly after nearly 90 years.

“This has whet my appetite now, I would love to know more about it,” he says.

“I’ve done a little bit of delving but I’ve hit a brick wall. I tried the Imperial War Museum in London and they recommended the National Archives or the London Gazette, but I thought I’d start with my local paper.”

Mr Yates-Westwood fought with the 6th Corps of the Royal Garrison Artillery and the tug-of-war photograph of him was printed in France, so Mr Malpass believes he fought in Europe.

The Military Medal – re-labelled the Military Cross since 1993 – was first introduced in 1916 for bravery in land battles.