Family is left devastated by theft of war medals during house move
A war veteran's family have been left devastated after medals, including a Burma Star, were stolen while being stored in a van overnight.
Thieves smashed though locks to get into the van, parked along Junction Street, Oldbury, before snatching the medals and other items.
They belonged to Lieutenant Colonel Frank Joseph James Prior OBE and have been kept by his granddaughter, Lesley, since his death eight years ago at the age of 98. She is in the process of moving from her home near Milton Keynes to Oldbury and her partner had brought them up in his van ready to go into her new home.
The medals, which were in two presentation boxes, were only in the van for a few hours before thieves struck. Miniatures of the medals were also taken.
They included the Burma Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal. The Burma Star was awarded for service in the Burma Campaign while the War Medal was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces full-time for at least 28 days between September 3 1939 and 2 September 2 1945. The Defence Medal was awarded for service during the conflict.
Lesley, aged 50, said: "I am absolutely devastated these medals have been taken and I am just hoping the police will be able to get them back. The medals were only in the van because of the move. A really lovely photograph of my grandfather was also stolen. All of the family are absolutely heartbroken.
"I am moving to Oldbury at the moment and it has not been the best of welcomes to the area."
Colonel Prior, who came from Surrey, served in the Royal Engineers during the Second World War and oversaw the design and building of bridges over rivers in India.
Sgt Darren Jones, from Oldbury Neighbourhood Policing Team, said:
"The medals are of great sentimental value she is desperate to have them returned. There is a reward being offered for their safe return."
People with information on the theft are asked to call police on the non-emergency 101 number.
