A REGIMENTAL cap badge has been returned to Dawlish by the man who found it on the beach more than 50 years ago.
On the day of their 70th wedding anniversary, 90 year old David Chandler and his wife, of Ashford, Kent, visited the museum.
He formally handed over a cap badge from 8th Irish Batt. Kings Regiment Liverpool, which he found during WWII.
In 1940, Mr Chandler, his mother and siblings were evacuated from London to Dawlish and were billeted in Barton Terrace, opposite the museum.
The house was owned by Mr Lionel Lewis who also owned the Oil and Hardware Store on Old Town Street and also served as a War Reserve Police Constable.
In 1941 they moved to the top floor in the Blenheim Hotel on Marine Parade.
With no schooling, David roamed the area most days and spent time with Mr Richard Rackley. a well-known Dawlish pleasure boat owner, before he was called up for service in the Navy, serving on HMS Duke of York.
He also spent time with Richard fishing in Lyme Bay on his motor launch.
It was at this time, while on the sand below the King’s Walk, that he found an army badge.
It may well have belonged to one of the soldiers billeted in a hotel along Marine Parade, who had spent some rest time on the beach.
At night they were on sentry duty between the Red Rock and Smugglers Lane at Holcombe.
David and his wife are regular visitors to Dawlish and having kept the badge all this time thought it was time for it to come home.