When Frank Rush began digging in his garden, he jokingly thought: 'Please God, let me find some treasure so I can retire early.' He had no idea that he would stumble upon a treasure - and one that would lead to a happy reunion.

Eastern Daily Press: Frank Rush of Wroxham was digging a soak-away in his garden and found a first world war medal - and has traced Barry Nunn the son of the medal owner William Nunn.Picture: Mark BullimoreFrank Rush of Wroxham was digging a soak-away in his garden and found a first world war medal - and has traced Barry Nunn the son of the medal owner William Nunn.Picture: Mark Bullimore (Image: Archant Norfolk 2015)

For Mr Rush found a precious medal as he excavated earth to make way for an extension to his home on Norwich Road, Wroxham.

Now he has tracked down the medal's owner, and brought joy to the family who thought it was lost forever.

Mr Rush, 61, said he noticed something fall to the bottom of the pit as he dug into the side of a hole.

'I thought it was an old coin at first, then on closer inspection I realised it was a medal.'

Eastern Daily Press: Frank Rush of Wroxham was digging a soak-away in his garden and found a first world war medal - and has traced Barry Nunn the son of the medal owner William Nunn.Picture: Mark BullimoreFrank Rush of Wroxham was digging a soak-away in his garden and found a first world war medal - and has traced Barry Nunn the son of the medal owner William Nunn.Picture: Mark Bullimore (Image: Archant Norfolk 2015)

Mr Rush's wife, Wyn, cleaned the medal up and saw that it bore the inscription J64927 W.Nunn A.B. RN.

They remembered that the lady who used to live in the house before them was 'Mrs Nunn', so they started looking through the phonebook.

The second person they phoned was Barry Nunn, the son of William Nunn, to whom the medal belonged.

Mr and Mrs Rush arranged for Mr Nunn to collect his father's medal.

Former RAF man Mr Rush, who works in the care industry, said: 'When I told him he sounded as though he'd been told he won the lottery. Some people might just have pawned the medal, but I wanted to make sure we could get it back to its rightful owner.'

When 69-year-old Mr Nunn was reunited with the medal it was the first time he had set foot in his family's old home in 20 years.

'My father was a very private man who never spoke of his war service. He was a good old boy and I wish I has listened to him more instead of just thinking about girls and motorbikes,' said Mr Nunn, a retired engine engineer.

Mr Nunn lives with his wife Vi, on Stafford Avenue in Costessey and she said: 'He has nothing left that belonged to him so this is really appreciated.'

After looking for information about his father's war service, Mr Nunn struggled to find anything. After finding the medal Mr Rush found the war time service record at the National Archives in Kew which had W Nunn listed as being from Wrexham, [sic] Norfolk whereas he was from Wroxham, which may explain why he struggled to find his service record.

William Nunn was born on August 18, 1898 in Wroxham and would have served in the First World War aged just 16 or 17 as his medal is from 1914.

He had three children and married his wife Beatrice in 1922. After the war, where he served in the Royal Navy, he was a boat builder and sail maker. He died in 1985.

• Have you made an interesting discovery? Email george.ryan@archant.co.uk