Ballarat police have appealed for public assistance in helping find war medals and other relics stolen from an ex-serviceman living in Mt Clear.
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Alan Mathieson said he left his home for an hour on Friday afternoon – long enough for two opportunistic thieves to smash through his back door and steal a safe containing treasured memories, including his grandfather’s World War One medals, a half-sovereign given to him at birth and an aluminium bracelet, also worn by his grandfather at the battle of Baupame in 1917.
The thieves also stole Mr Mathieson’s collection of swords and knives, including a 400-year-old katana or samurai sword.
Mr Mathieson, 73, is a veteran Australian Army Reserve member who served around Australia, including the 8/7 Battalion in Ballarat. A former Country Fire Authority air observer, he has suffered ill health recently, and he says the stress of the break-in has left him feeling vulnerable.
He says the swords are dangerous weapons, and he’s worried they could be used in other crimes.
“They took two broadswords, a (reproduction) samurai sword and short sword, and the real samurai sword, 400-years-old, genuine, worth possibly up to $30,000,” said Mr Mathieson.
“My parents had given me one of the broadswords, supposedly a copy of the one carried by (the medieval Spanish hero) El Cid. That started my collection off… I had a Bowie knife and a bayonet, and lock-down bladed knives – all of which are gone.”
Mr Mathieson says he fears the arsenal of weapons could be used in other violent attacks in Ballarat.
“That is a razor-sharp sword that is capable of cutting through French bayonet steel. Literally, you could shave with it.”
The loss of his grandfather’s service medals, along with his own Defence Medal, and the metal bracelet his grandfather wore at Bapaume, have saddened Mr Mathieson.
“Apparently (the Army) issued them with this aluminium bracelet which was engraved with ‘Bapaume’ and their regimental number, and I think something like ‘2nd Division, 1st AIF’ around it,” said Mr Mathieson.
“I got hold of it from when he died. He’d cut it off; it was kind of a supplementary death tag at the time.”
Detective Senior Constable Lee Tabbitt says Ballarat police are seeking two male suspects, and would welcome information from the public that might lead to them being apprehended or the stolen items located.
Anyone with information regarding the crime is urged to contact Ballarat police or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
