After excelling academically in her final year at a Perthshire primary school, Jean Kelly was looking forward to collecting a coveted Dux medal.
But instead of the glittering award the then 11-year-old was given a set of books.
With Europe just emerging from the shadow of the Second World War, there was no metal to spare to make a medal.
Almost seven decades on, Jean, who now bears the surname Minto, has finally been presented with the gong denied to her by Hitler.
In a surprise ceremony at Muthill Parish Church, the 80-year-old shook with emotion as she was presented with her Dux medal 69 years late.
Mrs Minto, who lives in Burrelton, said she was “shocked” to receive the award as she had been asked along under the guise of comparing presentation ceremonies in 1946 and today.
She said: “I could hardly get up on to the platform as I was shaking so much. It was such a shock to get my medal 69 years later.
“I was completely overcome. It was a surprise when I was asked to come to the prizegiving I thought it was just to see the children getting their prizes.
“I didn’t expect to get one myself. I’ll certainly treasure it.”
She added that at the time she was not disappointed by her prize.
She said: “It didn’t bother me that much because I enjoy reading. It wasn’t a big disappointment.”
The presentation was made possible by Muthill Primary’s P3/4 teacher, Emma Hepburn, who said the children had uncovered the medal omission while checking school records as part of a class project.
She said: “My class has been taking part in an inter-generational project called Memories of Muthill.
“We were collecting memories about school and prizegiving and we had a look back at the logbook and the old register.
“We found Jean had won the Dux in 1946 and normally it was a medal that was presented but instead she got three books.
“The reason given was because of the war effort all the metal had to go towards this.
“We invited her to school to tell the story and we have gone and got her a medal it’s just 69 years late.
“My class were beyond excited to present it to her.”