D-Day hero, 95, pleads for return of lost war medals

BLIND war hero Alfred Barlow is pleading for the return of his Second World War medals – after losing them at a motorway service station.

The grandfather was on his way home with his wife and family from a pilgrimage to Normandy where he fought on D-Day 73 years ago.

They paused at Norton Canes services on the M6 toll road near Walsall on Thursday, June 8, and Alfred, 95, of Stockport, went to the gents’ toilet.

Returning to the services cafe he realised his four medals were missing – but has no idea what happened to them.

He fears someone either accidentally Veteran Alfred Barlow in Army beret and inset the four medals he mislaid on the M6 picked them up and kept them out of interest – or else someone deliberately stole them.

His grandson retraced the family’s steps, asked at all shopping outlets and went to the lost property depot – without success.

The four lost medals are the 1939-1945 Star, the France & Germany Star, the 1939-1945 War Medal and the Palestine Medal.

Now only partially sighted, Alfred said yesterday: “I have found it all very distressing.

“These medals are worth very little to sell but to me they are priceless. I had intended to pass all of my medals on to my grandson.”

He served with the 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment, landing on Sword Beach in Normandy at 10am on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

He added: “My grandson and friends in the local Normandy Veterans Association have been fantastic in making contact with all possible options to see if they’ve turned up. But so far we’ve had nothing.”

Alfred, who is 96 on Sunday, said: “It would make my birthday if I was able to have them back again.”

Do you know where the medals are? Please call the Blind Veterans UK hotline on 0800 389 7979.