A "quite special" WW2-era medal has been discovered at an Edinburgh waste centre. Staff at the NWH Group found the Commander of the British Empire in a pile of rubbish at the Leith site.
Stuart Rae, who made the discovery on Thursday, May 4, has described it as the "most special thing they've come across". He hopes that the medal can be returned to its rightful owner and is appealing for information from locals.
Steven Walker, who works for the NWH Group and was on site when the medal was discovered, told Edinburgh Live: "We can't trace it to where it's actually come from - if it's out the back of a skip or a household cleaners vehicle.
"Stuart came across it, so he got my attention and called me over and that's when we realised we found something really quite special. There was an invitation to go to Buckingham Palace for what we think was the ceremony that was dated in 1945.
"We're just really trying to get it back where it belongs, it was only yesterday that we've managed to get everything together to start pushing out on social media to try and return it to its right.
"Most of the guys here have been in the waste industry for quite a while, but I think this is definitely the most, most special thing they've come across."
A spokesperson for the NWH Group added: "Surely this item must have great sentimental value to its owner? As a responsible processing site, NWH believes it has a duty to make every effort to return lost property, and is keen to reunite the medal with its rightful owner.
"The CBE medal is a prestigious honour awarded to those who have made significant contributions to their respective fields. It is an honour to be bestowed with such an award, and we understand the sentimental value that it holds for its recipient. The accompanying paperwork further adds to the significance of this finding."
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