Dave was awarded the O.B.E. for his services to the parachute industry, having worked for Irvin-GQ Parachutes. Collecting militaria for most of his life, Dave began trading with his son, Steve, as War & Son ten years ago and opened the War & Son shop in Leominster in 2017.

Yesterday TV’s 6 part series “History Hunters” featured Dave at the helm of the War & Son team, as the cameras followed them around the UK at antique fairs, auction houses and museum visits. His business highlights include buying and selling ten medal groups to the “Dambusters” 617 Squadron, including 4 airmen who participated in the legendary dams raid.

Steve studied Creative Writing at the University of Manchester and published his historical fiction novel, ‘Crystal Garden’ in 2018.

Researcher, photographer and archivist of the team, Steve uses genealogy and technical resources to bring to life the incredible stories of servicemen and servicewomen. His highlight was discovering the childhood scrapbook of Noel Chavasse, V.C. & Bar, which has now returned to Magdalen College School, Oxford.

After gaining a First-Class BA Honours degree in English Language & Literature at The University of Liverpool, Marie trained as an actor at The Oxford School of Drama. In 2017, having spent many years treading the boards, Marie relocated to Herefordshire with her partner Steve and decided to join the War & Son family business.

Since working for War & Son, Marie has developed a keen interest in animal life saving medals and has begun her own collection.

Al has been collecting militaria from the age of 12 when his father bought him a helmet (which he still owns!) from a junk shop.

He has been a battlefield re-enactor for decades, covering the English Civil War, the Battle of Waterloo and WWII Arnhem. Whilst participating in a large-scale reenactment in Gettysburg, Al was photographed for Airfix box artwork and a bag of American Revolutionary soldiers.

Trooper was adopted in 2009 as a puppy from Dogs Trust Bridgend and is affectionately referred to as ‘Cardiff Boy’. He has been a member of the War & Son team since the very beginning, when Dave and Steve first set up shop at Jacobs Antique Centre. Trooper is well known amongst medal collectors and dealers and features in the series ‘History Hunters’.

Lofty was adopted from Salisbury Dogs Trust in June 2022 as an 8-week-old puppy and lives with Steve & Marie. War & Son wanted to adopt after visiting Dogs Trust in episode six of History Hunters, when the team discovered and researched a National Canine Defence League Medal.