In 2008, Judith Knaggs wrote a booklet about the 50 men of Menston-with-Woodhead who perished during the First World War. One of them was Reginald Herbert Butterfield, a private in the Cameroon Highlanders, 4th Battalion & 1st Battalion, who was the second son of William Priestley Butterfield and Mrs Annie Butterfield of Menston Hall.

Reg’s father owned a shipping company W P Butterfield (Shipley) Ltd., which manufactured road tankers, pressure vessels and storage tanks for a worldwide market.

She said: “In 1997, it was reported in the Wharfedale Observer & Ilkley Gazette that a French lady had found a mahogany box belonging to Reginald and this was brought to the attention of her friend Mrs Elizabeth Owen and her husband Peter (nephew of the war poet Wilfred Owen) when they were in France.

“The box, which is normally used to hold a soldier’s documents, had a brass plate on it which was inscribed with Reg’s name and the words: ‘Greater love hath no man that he lay down his life for his friends’.

“Elizabeth Owen appealed to readers and as a result, Reg’s niece wrote to Mrs Owen and it was thought that a special ceremony would be arranged to return the box back to the Butterfield family.

“As this is the centenary year of the commencement of the First World War and we are to hold various commemoration events in Menston, we would be very interested to know whether the box was returned to the family, whom we have been unable to trace to date.

“If anyone knows of the whereabouts of the Butterfield family or how they could be contacted, we would be very pleased to hear from you.”

Judith can be contacted on (01943) 879290 or on david@timewarpband.co.uk.