Burnley teenager's impressive collection of war memorabilia sparked by gift of great grandfather's cherished medal

A gift of his great grandfather's medal from World War Two ignited a passion for history in teenager Archie Vickers.
Archie Vickers with some of the items from his collection of World War One memorabilia.Archie Vickers with some of the items from his collection of World War One memorabilia.
Archie Vickers with some of the items from his collection of World War One memorabilia.

And since that day he has built up an impressive collection of World War memorabilia which includes head wear and artillery alongside medals he has picked up at special fairs and also on ebay.

Archie (15) a student at Blessed Trinity RC College in Burnley said: “I started the collection after my grandad, Peter Bartlett, gave me the medal that my great grandfather, Stanley Lavender, had won while serving as a sergeant with the South Eastern Command.

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“I have German helmets, hats, replica bullets, a gas mask and obviously my great granddad’s medal.

“That is very precious, so that’s kept extremely safe.

“I have a real medal from World War One as well and that’s special also.”

History is Archie’s favourite subject and he has also visited battlefields in Belgium and France, a journey he found extremely emotional.

Archie’s schoolfriends had the opportunity to view some of his collection when he took it into school earlier this year as part of a special project on World War One for an Arts and Culture Week.

The week was timed to coincide with Remembrance Week and the centenary of the end of World War One.

Archie added: "My collection is taking over my the house but I still want to carry on with it."