Mystery surrounds 1926 medal found2 min read

Reading Time: 2 minutes

While visiting Waikaraka Cemetery last year, Linda Moss noticed something glinting in the grass. To her surprise, she discovered a vintage medal lying on the ground.

After carefully cleaning it, she uncovered an inscription: ‘Presented by E Pretty. 200 yds. Won by L Dobbs. 19 March 1926’

Linda handed the medal to the police, but it was returned to her after it went unclaimed. Wanting to make every effort to return it to the family of L Dobbs, she then brought it to the Onehunga Community News, and we decided to investigate.

Initial efforts proved fruitless as the Onehunga Fencibles and Historical Society had no records either of an L Dobbs or any sports event related to 19th March 1926. Naz from Onehunga Jewellers examined the medal and confirmed it was valuable – a rose gold plaque on a sterling silver base. However, the markings were decorative rather than genuine hallmarks.

We also contacted a stalwart of the Onehunga Sports Football Club, Bruce Dobbs. Bruce’s family has lived in Onehunga since the 19th century, and we asked if it might be a relative of his. Bruce rallied his relatives to search their records, but they are confident L Dobbs was not one of their lineage.

The breakthrough came when Bruce’s niece, Rachel, did an online search on Papers Past. Her search uncovered an article from the Waipa Post dated 23rd March 1926, reporting on the Puahue District School’s annual sports day. The article stated that the E Pretty medal, for the boys 220yards (sic) was won by Leslie Dobbs.

Although we now know the medal’s origins and why there is no local records of it, we still have not managed to track down Leslie’s family. Also, Puahue is near Rotorangi, roughly 135kms from Waikaraka Cemetery; so how did the medal end up at Waikaraka?

Our search continues, and we’ll share updates in future issues. If you have information about Leslie Dobbs or his family, please contact us at tim@onehunga.co.nz