A PENSIONER from Upton St Leonards has been left devastated

after burglars broke in and stole a collection of war medals

from his home.

The 73-year-old was away caring for a blind war veteran

friend when the thieves broke in through a window and made off

with a set of five medals from the Boer and Great Wars.

The incident happened sometime between 4pm on August 24 and

7.50am on August 25.

There were also other items taken including six miniature

medals in a frame, a nickel silver cup, won in 1901 for cage

birds owned by the victim's grandfather, and a small-faced

mantelpiece clock in an oak surround.

The victim's brother said: "The medals belonged to the

husband of my brother's godmother and are very valuable to

us.

"The little clock was of no value but of great sentimental

value.

"The thief was able to break-in easily that night because my

brother had travelled to Brighton earlier in the day to care

for his friend, a wartime airborne soldier who had been blinded

at Arnhem in September 1944. He makes this trip twice each year

so the elderly wife of this brave veteran can spend a few days

away with her daughter.

"On hearing news of the break-in, the wife of his friend

tried to persuade him to return home so that he could deal with

the problem – but, typically, he insisted that she should

continue with her holiday."

The victim said: "The items really meant a lot to me. I live

on my own and they are part of my life and part of my history.

The medals have always been here with me and I really want to

get them back."

Two of the stolen medals were from the Boer War, a Queen's

South Africa Victoria medal that is silver with an orange and

gold ribbon with blue stripes between them.

There were three clasps on the ribbon relating to separate

campaigns during the war.

Also, a Kings South Africa medal that is silver with a

green, white and orange ribbon. The other three were from First

World War – a 1914-1915 star that is gold with a red, white and

blue ribbon; a silver British war medal with an orange band in

the centre of the blue, white and black striped ribbon; and a

gold Victory medal with a rainbow coloured ribbon.

They were mounted side by side in an oak framed display with

a glass front.

His brother said: "There just might be a chance that the

person responsible for the theft might regret his actions, and

return these items to him. Someone might also recognise them at

a car boot sale or in a secondhand shop."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information

should call police on 0845 090 1234 quoting incident 144 of

August 25 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.