Karl Cranham of the UK has contacted The Herald Gazette about locating any living relatives of a Lamar County man whose World War II dog tag he found while out on a hike.
In an e-mail, Cranham said he was hiking in Savernake Forest in Wiltshire, England when he found the dog tag belonging to James M. Underwood of Rt. 1, Barnesville. The tag lists next of kin as Mary C. Underwood.
“I have done some research and found the tag is from around 1943. I am interested in contacting any living relatives to attempt to return it to the rightful owner,” Cranham said.
Savernake Forest is located between Marlborough and Great Bedwyn. That area was home to multiple Royal Air Force bases during the war. Many were used by US troop carrier flights ferrying soldiers into battle zones in Europe.
If you know relatives of the Underwoods, e-mail us at news@barnesville.com and we will provide your contact information to Cranham.
UPDATE: Al Medcalf reports he has located possible grave sites for James Underwood and his mother Mary Underwood in Tift County.
There is a “Mary Underwood” at 101 Hannah Street in Barnesville, Ga. Also J. Robyn Underwood, CPA is also local as it related to the lost “Dog Tags” from World War II story contained herein.