RSA has second medal issue
Another claimant has come forward as the investigation into the South Canterbury RSA’s missing war medals continues.
The RSA is now considering offering an amnesty following renewed interest after it was revealed last week that an unknown number of other items are unaccounted for from the Wai-iti Rd venue.
SCRSA president Lee Johns said yesterday the executive was scheduled to meet last night to discuss ‘‘the finer details’’ of a possible amnesty for the missing items.
Johns said Kapiti-based Stella Smith was scheduled to arrive in Timaru tomorrow to pick up six medals, including a Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), which were mysteriously returned to the SCRSA last Wednesday following renewed pleas for their return in the media on Monday.
Last year the organisation admitted former Timaru man Walter Smith’s WWII medals had been lost after Stella, his widow, and her family tried to get them back.
Smith loaned the six medals to the organisation in 1997. They were valued at about $7000.
Johns confirmed yesterday that someone else has come forward with claims of a missing medal.
‘‘The sad thing is it’s the same story; they contacted the RSA previously and they got fobbed off,’’ Johns said.
For decades, Smith and her family thought the medals were being safely exhibited, then stored, at the SCRSA in Timaru.
It wasn’t until her grandson – now serving in the army – wanted to wear them for centenary celebrations in 2015 that they began to suspect something was wrong.
Smith called and asked for the medals back, but was told they were part of a show. It wasn’t until 2018 when she found out the medals had been lost.
Johns said the latest claimant had seen last week’s media coverage and contacted her and Timaru police.
‘‘The people who do know something about these missing items have either passed away or are not prepared to be honest.
‘‘If it is returned we won’t ask any questions,’’ Johns said.
Meanwhile, investigating police officer Sergeant Kevin McErlain, of Timaru, who has spoken to more than 50 people and multiple organisations through the course of the inquiry, confirmed someone else had ‘‘come out of the woodwork’’ following recent media coverage.
The person had made contact with police but had not laid a formal complaint, he said.
Stuff spoke to the claimant on the grounds they not be named.
One item, a Military Medal (MM), presented to the woman’s grandfather on March 13, 1918, had been loaned to the SCRSA in 1978.
She now lives in North Canterbury and said she was at the ceremony when her auntie presented the SCRSA with the medal.
‘‘I first inquired about it about 10 years ago and they could never say if they had it or where it was,’’ she said.
‘‘I’ve called back many times and I was told about two years ago it was not there.’’
She was vague on a description but said the medal was encased in deep purple.
‘‘We just want it back for sentimental reasons.’’
‘‘The people who do know something about these missing items have either passed away or are not prepared to be honest. If it is returned we won’t ask any questions.’’
Lee Johns, South Canterbury RSA president