The grandson of a WWI hero is searching for his grandfather’s lost gun and medals.

William Evans was a Private with 9th corporal with L/Sgt with the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

The Tumble man arrived in France on July 19, 1915 and so was awarded the 1915 Star.

For his service during the First World War, he received the British War Medal, The Allied Victory Medal and for his bravery, he was awarded the Military Medal.

For his gallantry, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

The 1919 London Gazette describes how William showed conspicuous gallantry during the attacks from east of the Ancre to High Wood on August 23 to 28 1918.

He gave valuable assistance to his officer by keeping in touch with all companies and reporting continuously on the situation.

While locating a company that had pushed forward, he came across a complete enemy machine gun crew.

He killed one and captured the remainder, together with the gun.

The next day, although wounded, he remained with his battalion and continued at his duty throughout the whole of the operations.

He showed splendid courage and devotion to duty.

This encounter was chronicled in Capt. J.C. Dunn’s ‘The War the Infantry Knew’ - an account of service in France and Belgium from 1914-1919.

Capt. Dunn recalled: “In going to help, Lance-Corporal Evans had to pass through a zone of heavy machine-gun fire.

“The C.O. had continued on his feet somehow until he arrived at H.Q., trying to make light of his wound, but when the leg stiffened he handed over, and the last we saw of him was being carried down the road, waving to us cheerfully and shouting an encouraging ‘Carry on.’”

The machine gun that William took from his enemy in 1918 was hung above a doorway in Gwendraeth Grammar School for many years.

When the school closed its doors, William was asked if he wished to have the gun back, but he requested it be sent to The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh in Brecon.

But the gun never arrived there and his family have always wondered what happened to it.

William’s grandson, Les Griffiths, of Penygroes, has been searching for the weapon, along with his grandfather’s medals to no avail.

“I’m hoping someone will read this and it will jog their memory. We don’t even have any pictures of him so any information about him would be very welcome.”

William passed away more than 65 years ago, but his family wish to honour his bravery.

The county council are also helping to locate the gun.