Treasure hunter on a mission to return ‘trench art’ coin to soldier’s relatives

HISTORY: Amateur metal detectorist believes First World War veteran once lived in Dundee

A Tayside treasure hunter is on a quest to return a First World War-era coin to its owner’s living relatives.

Amateur metal detectorist Tom Miller came across the Baghdad coin while scouring a field close to Kirriemuir.

Bearing Arabic script on one side, the silver piece has been carved by, Tom thinks, George Dalziel, a soldier who lived in Lochee.

The coin bears the slogan “Baghdad: 1917-18”, George’s service number 89298 and RAMC – referring to the Royal Army Medical Corps.

It means the Lochee man – who once lived on South Road – probably served in the latter years of the Mesopotamian Campaign, around the time of the fall of Baghdad in March 1917. After posting pictures on Facebook groups dedicated to Dundee’s past and military history, Tom, from Broughty Ferry, was contacted by researcher Feona Mann.

Using electoral data and historical armed forces records, Feona was able to identify George as being from Lochee, the son of George and Matilda.

He enlisted in December 1914 and was discharged due to sickness on May 31 1919 at the age of 21 and four months.

He then had three daughters and while Feona managed to find the names of his children and their husbands, she could not find details of any offspring.

Tom, 50, said: “You never know what you’re going to find when you go out there – it’s like going fishing.

“With something like this when you find them you find yourself asking questions about its history – like who had this, and how it ended up here.

“Had he been up here picking tatties and lost it? You start thinking about all sorts of things.

“It would be really nice to give it back to the family, but I have no idea where to go from here.”

The coin is an example of “trench art” – objects sculpted out of souvenirs or pieces of equipment and ammunition by soldiers in conflict.

These were sometimes created by soldiers in the trenches and in George’s case may have served as a reminder of his time in Baghdad.

Anyone who thinks they you can help Tom identify George Dalziel’s surviving family can contact him at ratman2211@ yahoo.co.uk or email The Courier at

Picture: Mhairi Edwards. Tom Miller holds up the Baghdad silver coin he discovered in a field near Kirriemuir using a metal detector.