War hero on tour of Normandy has home ransacked
ASECOND World War Veteran had to cut a nostalgic trip to Normandy short after a burglar ransacked his home stealing precious sentimental items.
“Disappointed” former Royal Marine Eric Vaughan, 94, was making his first trip back to where he landed with commando reinforcements following D-Day in 1944 when a neighbour called with the bad news.
Luckily the pensioner from Prestatyn, who was awarded the French Legion d’honneur for his services, had taken his war service medals with him.
But Mr Vaughan believes the intruder stole his jack-knife issued in 1942 and Reichsmark coins, which was the currency in Germany at the time of the Second World War.
“What was the point of all of that?” he asked. “It makes your blood boil.”
He also lost a Rotary watch given to him by his wife for his 70th birthday, a second watch of sentimental importance and Reichsmark coins, which was the currency in Germany at the time of the Second World War.
Mr Vaughan said: “I’m very disappointed by what happened. You can’t take everything with you. You lock up your house and think it’s secure. I haven’t lost hundreds of pounds worth of stuff but things which to me meant a lot.”
The former factory worker who joined the Marines in 1942 and was demobbed in 1946, had also served in North Africa and Italy, losing dozens of colleagues.
After being told of the sickening raid in North Wales, he and wife Beryl left the cruise ship on a tender to St Malo and took a taxi to Dinard before flying back to East Midlands airport.
Mr Vaughan said: “I had hoped to go to Honfleur to see it now.”
He added: ”I was lucky I had taken my medals. I am nearly 95 now. I will not be going again.”
Beryl said: “It was the first time he had gone back since landing. I said ‘how about going back,easy access on a ship’. he opted for it this time. The family are very upset about what happened.”
A local man said: “Let’s hope they catch the low-life responsible. To do this to a war veteran is appalling.”
A North Wales Police spokesman said they were alerted to reports of a burglary on July 14 by a neighbour of the victim.
He added: “Jewellery, a cash card and an insurance certificate were stolen. It is under investigation and we are working with the family on a number of lines of enquiries. Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting reference W096753.”