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The search for the rightful owner of two World War I medals has hit a wall, with police turning to the public for help.
An old cardboard box full of war medals was handed over to police after it was found near the St Kilda marina on Monday.
British and Victory Medals were awarded to William Hutchinson, who is believed to have been born in Ballarat in 1895 before leaving Australia for Cairo, Egypt in 1915.
King George V instituted the British Medal in 1919 to mark the end of the First World War and record service given between 1914 and 1920.
The Victory Medal, on the reverse of which was inscribed “The Great War for Civilization”, was also issued to members of certain Allied forces entering the battlefield from 1914 to 1918.
Through inquiries with the RSL, Border Force and the National Archives of Australia, police established that Mr Hutchinson’s listed next of kin was his father, also named William Hutchinson.
Before his death he lived in Coburg, Richmond, Burnley and South Melbourne.
Police have not been able to identify any living relatives, and are releasing photographs of the medals in the hope that they will be identified and returned to their rightful owner.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers.
