MEDALS dating back to World War One have been donated to the Bury Fusilier Museum.

Three medals, nicknamed Pip Squeak and Wilfred, have been donated to the museum after local fundraisers Paul and Ben Fox bought them eBay.

All three were worn together and in the same order from left to right -The 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Buyer Paul Fox said “We saw these medals for sale on eBay and immediately knew that we wanted to make sure that they found their way to a natural home with the museum. So, we purchased them and got them back into safe hands. We are humbled to know that future generations will be able to view them, and they will be with others in the collection”.

It is believed that the medals once belonged to Bury lad Private Stanley Beazley, who served the second/fifth Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers throughout the great war.

Private Beazley lived locally until he served his regiment in France, before being discharged in 1919.

Mr Fox said that he purchased the medals for £80, from the great great grandson of Private Beazley, saying “When I saw them I thought, are they going to the right people? And I just thought these have to go to the Fusiliers, they belong there.”

Colonel Brian Gorski, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the museum said “This kind donation means that our visitors can see them for themselves and ultimately the medals are back where they belong.”

The medals will now be displayed in the Quartermaster’s Store at the museum.