TOPIC:

David
On the night of 8/9 October.

Frank
I thought it likely that it was a theft to order, perhaps with inside information, or arranged by someone with detailed knowledge of the location of the medals. In SA, there are gangs that specialise in ATM robberies at night using explosives**, and such a gang could have been hired to do the job at the Talana Museum. The medals could now well be winging their way to their new home overseas, although a new local home is probably more likely.

Regards
Brett
** The SABC news this morning reported that six ATMs in Pinetown were blown up and robbed last night. No doubt no-one saw or heard anything, and the baddies have probably spent the day counting and dividing their loot.

It makes you wonder if it was a made to order theft and if the medals were the target as previously stated.....

I hope that the museum will put out a full list very soon of what has been taken because if it was for profit they will show up......

Very sad news.....

Mike

Hello Brett,
I would think that was very likely, otherwise, they are without their real market value, very sad, how many medals are we talking about?
Regards Frank

Brett Hendey wrote: David
On the night of 8/9 October.

Frank
I thought it likely that it was a theft to order, perhaps with inside information, or arranged by someone with detailed knowledge of the location of the medals. In SA, there are gangs that specialise in ATM robberies at night using explosives**, and such a gang could have been hired to do the job at the Talana Museum. The medals could now well be winging their way to their new home overseas, although a new local home is probably more likely.

Regards
Brett
** The SABC news this morning reported that six ATMs in Pinetown were blown up and robbed last night. No doubt no-one saw or heard anything, and the baddies have probably spent the day counting and dividing their loot.

Copied from Stolen Medals section of BMF......

For your information.......

Some pretty terrible news just-in from Pam, Talana Museum! When Pam arrived for work this morning she found utter devastation in parts of the Museum! All strong rooms and safes bar one had been broken into, semtex explosives were still connected to some safes, however, mercifully had failed to explode! Drills, angle grinders had been used to break through 3 steel doors to access the Armoury, no weapons were taken! A priceless, irreplaceable collection of Medals (Zulu-War – Boer War & First World War) stolen, 40 in total! One in particular, Dugal Mc Phail’s one of the Founders of Dundee and one of the few survivors from the Battle of Isandlwana (Zulu-War 1879)his medal one of its kind in the World and conservatory valued at R4,200,000.00 – GONE!

The Bomb squad from Newcastle have just left now after removing the explosives and have rendered the building safe! Pam and her people are utterly gutted – please spare a thought for them! The thieves knew exactly where to get to the alarm centre to disarm it and apparently knew where to target the heavily fortified Armoury where the Medal Collection is housed!

For all of us who have been associated with this Museum for well over 30 years and seen it rise up from the ruins of the old Smith’s Farm this is indeed a dark day! particularly for Pam and her dedicated staff, a cruel blow indeed!

DUNDEE –MEDALS HELD AT TALANA MUSEUM.

1.SMITH, William Craighead. J.P. (2 medals)

• South Africa Service medal – no bar (Lieutenant, Buffalo Border Guard). 04/9447
• QSA with “Talana” bar (Dundee Rifle Association).

2.STEER, Alfred J.W. 04/5392

• QSA bar Talana (Dundee Town Guard).

3.XXXXX

4. McKENZIE, John. J.P. (3 medals)

• QSA with bars Talana; Defence of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek; South Africa 1901. 170 Corporal, Natal Carbineers. 04/21
• Natal Rebellion. No bar. Lieutenant and Quartermaster, Natal Carbineers. 04/15
• Long Service Medal J McKenzie 04/19


5. MACPHAIL, Duncan Dugald 04/2385

• Natal Rebellion (no bar). Lance Corporal, Natal Carbineers.


6. BROCKMAN, C. (2 medals)

• QSA with bars Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek. 146 Trooper C. Brockman, Umvoti Mounted Rifles. 04/16970
• Natal Rebellion with 1906 bar. Trooper C. Brockman, Msinga Military Reserves. 04/6590

7.GARDNER, W.N. 1213 Trooper. South African Light Horse. 04/16

• QSA bars Cape Colony; Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Laing’s Nek; Belfast.

8.SAUNDERS, J. 731 Corporal. Imperial Light Infantry. 04/16968

• QSA with bars Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek.





9.HARMSWORTH. 2402 Trooper Robert William. Natal Police. (3medals)

• QSA with bars Tugela Heights; Relief of Ladysmith; Cape Colony; Orange Free State; Transvaal.
• Africa service Medal 1939-1945 04/13804
• 1939-1945 War Medal 04/13805


10.HAUTON, Conductor A. Natal Transport. 04/6452

• QSA with no bar.


11.STARZAKER. 1655 Corporal W. Scots Guards. 04/20

• KSA.

12.WHARRAM. 2186 Private M. Johannesburg Mounted Rifles.

• QSA with bars Cape Colony; Transvaal; Orange Free State; South Africa 1901 and 1902. 04/16969

13. MAUNDER. 8326 Private F. Royal Army Medical Corps.

• QSA with bars Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek.. 04/2386

14. MILLER. 3285 Private D.H. Royal Dublin Fusiliers. (2 medals)

• QSA. Private. Bars Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek. 04/5327
• KSA. Drummer. Bars South Africa 1901 and 1902. 04/16963


15. BUNTING, Benjamin Bartle. (4 medals)

• QSA. Bars Defence of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek. 64 Trooper, Volunteer Composite Regiment. 04/5326
• KSA. Bars South Africa 1901 and 1902. 64 Sergeant, Natal V.C.R. 04/5325
• Natal Rebellion with bar 1906. Sergeant, Natal Carbineers. 04/5324
• Edward VII Coronation Medal in bronze. Unnamed.

16. 4 medals showing the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary June 1911. 04/18 1 04/18 2 04/18 3 04/18 4
2 are silver and 2 bronze.

17. London School Board Medal awarded to Herbert Head 1889

18. Union of South Africa Medal 1910 04/23 1 04/23 2 04/23 3 3 medals

19. Trade tokens presented to Dundee by Dundee Scotland – 18 in total 04/24 numbered 1-24 individually.

20. 3 First World War medals awarded to E V Pulford 04/17564
1914-15 Star, 1914-1919 Brittania medal, 1914-1918 George V Medal

21. Johannesburg City Council 1886-1966 medal 04/28

22. Military Medal issued to RJA McMillan 22. 04/5713

23. Republic Medal 1961 04/5331

24. Iron Cross 1914 04/1355

25. Queen Victoria medal 1890 medal 04/1046

26. 1939-1945 04/13805

27. Great War for civilization 1914-1919 04/9151

28. WW1 star medal 04/9150

29. Ribbon 04/9152

30. Defence Medal World War ll 04/8172

31. 1939-1945 Medal 04/8173

32. 1939-1945 Star no name on medal 04/8174

33. Africa Service Medal no name on medal 04/8175

34. 1947 Royal Visit medals 04/6595 2 of these

35. 1947 Royal visit medal 04/6592

36. Africa Service Medal 1939-1945 no ribbon or name inscription 04/6453

37. Set of 4 miniature medals from 1914-1918 04/6454

38. Set of 3 medals to T B Wade 1937 Coronation medal 04/6451

39. Africa Service Medal 04/6450

40.Italian Africa Orientale medal - Ethiopia 04/6449

41.Italy Star WW11 Number 613133 V Ridley 04/13875

42. Coronation medal of King George and Queen Mary 04/11450

43. Pro Patria Medal 04/16714

44. Police Faithful Service Medal awarded to Sgt PS Nel 04/15716

45. Police Merit Badge stamped on back of medal P S M Nel 18318 20.03.64 04/ 15717

46. Safe driving medal 1947-1949 04/15338

47. 1947 Royal visit to South Africa medal 04/15164

48. Union of SA Commemorative medal 04/19493

49. 1906 badge with 7 small hooks on reverse 04/18105

50. Edward Vll and Queen Alexandra medal 04/18069

51. Brass medal issued by Dundee to commemorate coronation of Edward Vll 04/18058

52. Coronation of Edward and Alexander medal 04/18057 has holes punched in it.

53. Dundee Corporation medal issued for coronation of George V and Queen Mary 04/18059

54. Silver medal to commemorate silver jubilee of Queen Mary and King George 1910-1935 04/18060 2 medals and medal bar

55. Bronze medal for silver jubilee of George V and Queen Mary 04/18061

56. Talana Lodge Masonic Lodge medal presented to R Smith 1903 04/18062

57. Circular black badge “For King and Empire” number on reverse SA11228 04/18055

58. silver Queen Victoria jubilee medal 1837-1897 04/18056

59. Medal for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth ll 04/17713 1

60. Commemorative button for coronation of Elizabeth ll 04/17713 2

61 .Miniature A Defence force medal 1994 with number 138175 stamped on reverse 04/17567

62. General service medal presented to D Greenhough number 149767 stamped on reverse 04/17566

63. Medal to commemorate 1925 Royal visit to SA 04/17562

64. Coronation medal for George V and Queen Elizabeth in 1937 04/17561

65. Replica Victoria Cross

Thanks David - I've added these to The Register.