The medals were found in a case which mentioned Vancouver inside

The medals were awarded to Lance Corporal TO Davies, who served at Ypres in Belgium in 1916.

Lis Puw, head teacher of Ysgol Bro Ddyfi in Machynlleth, found the medals when she cleared a set of drawers.

The school now wants to find out more about its former pupil.

L/Cpl Davies' three honours, which include a Distinguished Conduct Medal, were with an old local newspaper cutting.

The article describes how his battalion had been "practically wiped out" during a "massed attack" by German forces on 3 June, 1916.

L/Cpl Davies rescued his wounded comrades from no man's land

L/Cpl Davies left the trenches and "prowled around" in no man's land bringing in wounded men under fire from German artillery and machine guns, says the newspaper.

It appears as though L/Cpl Davies and his parents originally lived at Bridge Street in Machynlleth, but emigrated to Canada before the war.

L/Cpl Davies apparently arrived in the UK with the "Canadian contingent".

"I was touched to read about this man going across no man's land to rescue his friends," said Mrs Puw.

"It sends shivers down your spine when you think of the bravery this Welshman showed."

Mrs Puw, who has been head at the school for just a month, believes the medals were donated to the school.

"I've asked long-standing members of staff if they knew about them but they didn't," she added.

Mrs Puw said the medals would inspire her pupils

L/Cpl Davies served in France for 20 months, but suffered a "breakdown in health" and returned to England.

He was then discharged from the Army and sent home to Canada.

Three other medals, awarded to D Attwater, a RAF serviceman in World War II, were also found in a cardboard box with a Hampshire address.

But it appears as if the box had been re-directed to Raglan in Monmouthshire.

Mrs Puw wants to find out more and put the medals on display.

"They would serve as an inspiration to pupils and would show respect for the men who served in both world wars."