The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 50, December 9, 2007, Article 28

VICTORIA CROSS MEDAL THEFT GENERATES OUTRAGE IN NEW ZEALAND

[The New Zealand medal theft reported last week has spurred
commentary and concern from all areas of the country.  Below
are excerpts from a representative set of articles.  -Editor]

"Penetrating the hitherto-thought-impregnable fortress of
Waiouru's military museum, thieves have liberated more than
100 medals from under the noses of State-trained professional
killers. The gongs include Upham's Victoria Cross and Bar.

"He must be stirring in his grave, wondering: Is this the
same country I fought for, and almost died for?"

"The Minister of Defence deserves a month in solitary,
polishing dustbins and trimming lawns with a nail-clipper,
for gross dereliction of duty and absent-mindedness.

"The people responsible for the daring theft of what amounts
to New Zealand's equivalent of the Crown Jewels deserve a
medal for highlighting an appalling lack of protection for
artefacts that are beyond any valuation."

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

[The following article requires some translation of Maori
words, which I've place in brackets following the words.
And yes, I had some help... -Editor]

"War medals stolen from Waiouru [site of the national
army museum] are the 'whakapapa [ancestral history] of
our New Zealand military', says New Zealand First MP Ron Mark.

"'It's national taonga [treasure],' he said yesterday in
Palmerston North.

"Nine Victoria Crosses were among 100 medals stolen from
the army museum.

"Reports suggest the heist early on Sunday morning was
well-planned and executed.

"'If it was a professional hit, you have to consider the
possibility the medals may already be out of the country, '
Mr Mark said.

"Prime Minister Helen Clark has called the burglary a
crime against the nation."

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

"A Victoria Cross expert says he believes the stolen
medals are likely to be held for ransom.

"Michael Maxton is the curator for The Michael Ashcroft
Trust in England, which cares for a tenth of the 1357 VCs
awarded since 1856.

"He told Nine to Noon the fact that relatively few medals
were taken showed the thieves knew exactly what they were
looking for.

"Mr Maxton says those responsible would have known the
medals would not be able to be sold, meaning they would
likely be held for ransom.

"He says a theft of this scale from an historical
institution is unprecedented.

"Charley Hill, a former detective from Scotland Yard's
art and antiques unit who recovered The Scream by Edvard
Munch, says the most realistic way of getting the medals
back is for the police to offer a reward and wait for
someone to surface.

"Police have said it is unlikely a reward will be offered.

"The Army says the collection of medals would be valued
in the millions, but its importance to the country is
immeasurable."

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

[Police are going all out to find the thieves - they are
using some 'high tech' tools as well as slogging through
a thorough process of interviewing people at every home
in town. -Editor]

"Police are turning to advanced technology in their bid
to catch the thieves who stole 100 medals, many rare,
from the Army Museum in Waiouru last Sunday.

"An Auckland-based expert has been at the museum today
assisting investigators to create a digital map of the
museum.

"Meanwhile, a forensic examination of the scene had been
completed and scientists had taken a number of items back
to Wellington for evaluation.

"About 20 military police officers, seconded to the case,
had an uncomfortable afternoon as they braved heavy rain
to door-knock Waiouru residents in a bid to interview all
of the town about their whereabouts on Saturday night.

"Inquiry head Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Bensemann
said police investigation of the museum's closed circuit
TV footage was now focusing on footage captured on Saturday
night and Sunday morning when the raid took place.

"Police were still asking for people who were in or had
travelled through Waiouru late Saturday night or early
Sunday morning to contact them by calling the hotline
number or emailing them."

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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