AN ELDERLY veteran has been left heartbroken after his set of five service medals from the Second World War were stolen from his home.

Ernie Tull, 90, from Leyburn, served with the Royal Artillery from 1939 to 1945, and following the war he served 32 years in the Army Fire Brigade at Catterick Garrison – which included tours of duty to Northern Ireland at the height of the Troubles.

Mr Tull proudly displays his medals and takes part in Leyburn’s annual Remembrance Parade, having served for many years as a standard bearer for the local branch of the Royal British Legion.

But after removing them from his jacket to have it dry-cleaned in time for this year’s Remembrance events, Mr Tull returned home from a walk one day to find they had gone.

He said: "I’d put them in a dish while I had my jacket dry-cleaned for the parade and although I usually lock my door I didn’t when I went for a walk and noticed they’d gone when I got back.”

He noticed the medals were missing on Wednesday, October 5, but is unsure as to when exactly they went missing.

The medals are General Service Medal for Palestine, 1939-1945 Medal, 1939-1945 Defence Medal, General Service Medal Northern Ireland and a Fire Service Medal.

John Lockley, a relative of Mr Tull, is helping him obtain replicas of the medals - but said they are irreplaceable due to the memories they hold.

He said Mr Tull is upset by the burglary but keeping a brave face.

Colin Nesbitt, branch chairman of the Leyburn Royal British Legion, said he was sad to hear Mr Tull’s news and felt frustrated for him because medals do not usually have a great monetary value.

He said: “It is all about the personal experience and memories attached to them. Mr Tull always attends our parades and was a standard bearer for many years, when he would proudly wear his medals."

Inspector Mark Gee from North Yorkshire Police said: “Crimes like this are extremely upsetting for victims and, quite rightly, have appalled the Leyburn community. These medals have been taken in an act of pure selfishness.

“I’d like to appeal for the public’s help in catching the deplorable individual who took them.”