Families 'horrified' after thieves break in to war museum and steal VCs worth £4m

A POLICE hunt has been launched for thieves who stole New Zealand's most valuable collection of war medals - nine Victoria Crosses.

Major-General Lou Gardiner, the chief of the NZ army, said burglars forced their way into the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum at Waiouru on North Island early yesterday.

Among the medals taken was a double VC belonging to Captain Charles Upham - one of only three men awarded the medal twice. "These medals were awarded to their recipients for their extraordinary valour and have come to symbolise the huge sacrifices that all New Zealanders made in the many conflicts fought for the freedoms we have come to accept," Maj-Gen Gardiner said.

Phil Goff, the defence minister, said the burglary was a "crime against the nation". Steve Mastrovich, the Ruapehu police area commander, said the burglary appeared well-planned, targeting the VCs and at least three other medals guarded by reinforced glass, alarms and security cameras.

Amanda Upham, the daughter of the late double VC holder, said: "It's a disgrace. We would not have our freedom today if it was not for those gallant people." Doug Elliott, the son of Keith Elliott, who was awarded the VC after a campaign in North Africa in 1942, said the family was upset. "They can steal the medal, but they can never take it away from Dad; he'll always be Keith Elliott, VC."

Mr Elliott said he had arranged for the medal to be displayed at Waiouru soon after his father's death in 1989. He had believed the medals were safe: "I thought it was like Fort Knox."

Six of the medals were awarded for bravery in the First World War and three in the Second World War. New Zealanders have been awarded 22 VCs, mostly recently Corporal Bill Apiata of the NZ Special Air Service, who received the award on 2 July, 2007, for bravery under fire during the Afghanistan conflict in 2004.

Retired Lieutenant General Don McIver said the medals - worth up to £4 million - would be hard to sell as each was identifiable by the recipient's name etched on it. "But that doesn't mean there aren't collectors who would be prepared to have the medals despite that," he said.

Inaugurated by Queen Victoria in the mid-1800s, the VC remains the highest valour award in Britain and its former colonies. Capt Upham was awarded his first VC for fighting in Crete during May 1941. When informed of the award, his first response was: "It's meant for the men."

He was awarded the second fighting in the first battle of El Alamein in 1942. Wounded twice, he destroyed a German tank, several guns and vehicles with grenades. A machine-gun bullet through the elbow shattered Capt Upham's arm, but he went on again to a forward position and brought back men who had become isolated.

He was eventually taken prisoner and, after several escape attempts, was interned in the infamous Colditz Castle. Upon the prison being liberated by American forces, Capt Upham seized a German weapon and attempted to rejoin the fighting.