The inscription on the back of the old watch caught Murray Taylor's eye.
Before noticing the etched words, Taylor, Christchurch's Opawa Community Op Shop volunteer, had assumed the old Omega timepiece was worthless.
"I had a look at it, and I thought it's not working; it's very old, and the leather strap is almost falling off."
The words on the back revealed that the owner was a soldier, David Tripp. They included his number and regiment — New Zealand Armoured Corps, 2 Divisional Cavalry.
Taylor took the watch home to investigate further. He discovered its young owner lost his life near Cassino, Italy, on March 6, 1944.
Taylor's voice choked with emotion when he told Seven Sharp of the circumstances of Tripp's death: "He was killed stepping on a mine."
With a desire to return the watch to the soldier's family, Taylor reached out to Ian Martyn, founder of Medals Reunited.
Martyn has returned more than 500 war medals to families. "I don't search for medals; I rely on people sending medals to me," he explained. "I will search and find a relation to send those medals to."
Martyn, an ex-serviceman himself, charges no fee for his time. He reunites not only medals but also letters, postcards, kit bags, and "any item that has a military connection and that has a number or a name on it."
The 80-year-old watch in the op shop had both details engraved on the back, leading Martyn to Tripp's elderly nephew, now residing in a Christchurch rest home.
Martyn discovered that Tripp's brother, Hugh Tripp, known as Mowbray, was also killed in action a year before David. Both brothers, who hailed from Geraldine, South Canterbury, had attended Christ's College.
With the family's permission, Martyn presented the watch to the College's acting principal, Gillian Simpson.
"This is an absolute taonga from the family," acknowledged Simpson, who received the watch in front of the College honours wall, which includes the names of the Tripp brothers, who were 22 and 25 when they died.
Simpson said the school will celebrate its 175th anniversary next year by opening a museum to preserve and acknowledge the deeds of past pupils. Christ's College will display the watch alongside historic cricket bats, photographs, and other memorabilia.
Martyn dated the watch to 1943, a year before its owner died. He believed the watch would have been returned to Tripp's parents after his death, along with other personal effects, but would like to know how it ended up amongst items donated to the op shop twelve months ago.
He praised Taylor's initiative in identifying the timepiece as a precious item.
"If it wasn't for him having a good look and noting the engraving on the back, it might have gone out in the trash."
For his part, Taylor is relieved a final resting place for the watch has been found.
"It'll be good for it to go to a home that appreciates it."
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