Leicester family's plea after Military Cross is stolen from home

A family has been left devastated after irreplaceable war medals were stolen by burglars.

The framed and mounted collection, including a First World War Military Cross gallantry award, was stolen during the raid on Nicola Barton's home in the early hours of last Thursday.

Mrs Barton's father-in-law, Edward Cecil Barton was awarded the Military Cross for attacking, apparently single-handed, a German block house – or temporary fort – during the battle of Ypres in Belgium in 1917.

The Military Cross is inscribed with Lieutenant Barton's name. He served in both world wars and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He died, aged 84, in 1980.

Mrs Barton said her father-in-law's seven medals, and three awarded to his brother, Reginald, and two unknown 19th century medals won by their father Edward were taken in the break-in at her home in Chapel Lane, Knighton, Leicester.

Mrs Barton, a 66-year-old nurse, said: "All of the medals are of great value to us as a family, no matter how little their worth in monetary terms.

"They are irreplaceable and I can only hope the people who have taken them will realise they belong with this family."

Mrs Barton's son, Tom, said: "My grandfather was an amazing man. He served in both world wars and he wrote his autobiography.

"He described how he won the medal in his book, but he was always incredibly blase about what he had done. He was serving with the Worcestershire Regiment at the battle of Ypres. There was a German block house holding up the battalion's advance and he managed to knock it out on his own.

"We hope this story will prick the conscience of the burglars or someone who knows what they have done. The Military Cross is inscribed on the back with my grandfather's name, so hopefully that will make it easy to trace."

Richard Foster, county manager for the Royal British Legion in Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire, said: "All of these medals are a piece of this family's history and I would hope the people who have taken them will read this story and look into their hearts and return them."

Police have appealed to anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour in the neighbourhood on the night of the break-ins to contact them.

They are also urging second hand goods dealers to contact them if anyone offers the medals for sale.

Detective Inspector Simon Preston, of Leicestershire police, said: "Clearly criminals will often attempt to sell stolen items through certain shops. We have a good relationship with many of those businesses and we do exchange information."