New medals for veteran replace stolen originals

A proud veteran whose war medals were stolen by thieves was presented with replacement medals at a church service.

Geoffrey Blain, 94, was staying in a care home over Christmas when his home in Regent Street, Rolvenden, was broken into.

The thieves took items, which included four of his own medals and a cluster of his father Arthur Blain’s medals from the First World War.

They also took jewellery, including an engagement ring for Mr Blain’s late wife Joan, who died in 2007, shortly before their 60th wedding anniversary.

It left him feeling vulnerable in his own home, and also greatly saddened, as his medals were a record of the time he was held as a prisoner of war at the hands of the Japanese.

He had served in the Royal Artillery and was captured during the surrender of Singapore. As a prisoner he had to complete forced labour, including clearing dead bodies on the island.

Then he was shipped to the island of Formosa, now Taiwan, where he drained a swamp for an aerodrome and later worked in a copper mine.

This week Mr Blain was presented with replacement medals at a church service in Rolvenden led by the Rev Christopher Hodgkins.

There was a poem read by Rolvenden Primary pupils, neighbour John Walters read out Mr Blain’s service record, and medals were presented by Rolvenden British Legion branch president Barry Pain.

The event was organised by branch chairman Edward Barham, who said: “The medals were paid for by the branch and it was a pleasure to present them. Geoffrey had a tear in his eye, and the ceremony had a sense of gravitas. The replacement medals were donated by fellow members and were unnamed. The theft of his Second World War medals would have earned the thieves almost nothing, just pennies. Yet they meant so much to him, for what he had endured.

“If they had stopped to think what they were taking, all the personal medals and what they represent to Geoffrey.

“He spent three years in miserable, slave-like conditions. Even the most hardened criminals would have to think twice if they had known that.”

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Main picture: Stuart Kirk; inset: Kent Police Barry Pain from the Royal British Legion pins the medals; inset, the stolen First World War medals

Picture: Stuart Kirk Rolvenden Primary School pupils read poems

Picture: Stuart Kirk Geoffrey Blain was presented with replacement medals at a church service in Rolvenden

Pensioner Geoffrey Blain, who had his medals stolen