Stolen war hero watch recovered

WORKERS AT MUSEUM CELEBRATE ITS RETURN

Reporter A PRICELESS watch awarded to a First World War hero to honour his bravery has been returned – five months after it was stolen from a museum.

Thieves snatched the gold pocket watch from the Blyth Battery Museum on Links Road in the Northumberland town in April.

The timepiece was on display in a cabinet at the museum when yobs broke in and stole it.

It is inscribed with “presented to TRMr Jas Thompson, DSM by the Military Merit Committee in recognition of his gallantry in the Great European War, 21st May 1920”.

Five months after the watch was stolen, Northumbria Police tracked it down. Katrina Harte, who works at the museum, said: “It is part of out World War One exhibition and for us it is a major relief it has been found.

“It is so important because we are able to keep the memories alive as it gets shown to a lot of people.

“It goes to show that there are some really nice people who were willing to help us find it.

“I was so happy when the police said they had found it and I was lost for words.

“I just can’t thank the police enough.” The hands and the glass face on the watch have been damaged but Mrs Harte is hopeful it can be repaired.

Volunteers hope the timepiece will be back on display at the museum in the coming weeks.

Blyth Battery was a coastal defence artillery battery built in 1916 to defend the Port of Blyth.

It survived two world wars and in 2008 work began to restore the buildings to create an exhibition space.

Today, it is home to memorabilia from the two wars and is visited by thousands of people every year.

Volunteers raise money through guided tours, fundraising activities and rely on donations from visitors.

For more information about the museum, visit www.blythbattery. org.uk.