New Zealander charged with stealing 800 medals from army museum

[mattm1970]

Wellington (DPA) -- A New Zealand man appeared in a Wellington
court Wednesday, charged with stealing more than 800 medals while
working at the National Army Museum.
Keith John Davies, 57, was remanded on bail until September 22
on 18 charges of taking 843 medals from 1995 to 2002 and
unlawfully exporting New Zealand antiquities.
Police said Davies, who lives in Queensland, was arrested
after flying into Wellington airport Wednesday. They said he
returned voluntarily from Australia after a joint, year-long
investigation by police from both countries.
Three hundred medals were recovered after a search of Davies'
home in Queensland.
The deputy chief of the army, Brigadier Charles Lott, told
Radio New Zealand, "These medals represent people's courage and
gallantry, certainly their commitment to the country.
"The fact that they have gone missing devastates us as the
custodians of New Zealand's national treasures, and I guess it
will upset New Zealanders as well," he said.
Police said the case was separate from a smash and grab at the
museum in the central North Island town of Waiouru in December
2007 when 96 war medals, including nine Victoria Crosses, were
stolen. Two men are serving prison sentences for that raid.

[Aus der Traum]

No good at all! What a selfish act. These medals should be on display for everybody to see.. Not locked away in some hiding space..

[ObKrieger]

9 VC's? Somebody is impatient...

[Danger]

I remember this.... bloody disgusting.

[big ned]

9 VC's? Somebody is impatient...

One of them was awarded to Charles Upham VC, who was awarded it twice in WW2, so I imagine it would have also had the bar on it, a truly unique item.

Here's a link to the case mentioned above. Reading it makes it appear this is not the first occurrence of this happening at the National Army Museum of New Zealand as it was revealed last year that a former curator of the museum was sacked after a response to an Official Information Act request for the same reasons.

Medal theft accused served as territorial | Stuff.co.nz

Regards, Ned.

[stuka f]

Don't know if any investigation was ever started about the missing stuff in our National army museum, but I guess it would take many people during many years to clear that up.....

[harryamb2]

this as also happened here in the Imperial War Museum. back in the 70s.

[Australia]

I went there 2 years ago , very nice museum , the medal room is like a vault now. they also released a medallion to celebrate the return of the medals



here is the topic i started with lots of pics of the museum
National Army Museum (New Zealand) ---PIC HEAVY 233 PICTURES---

[Jerry B]

An old story that has been bumped. Sad to hear of it all the same and I wonder how many of the medals from both thefts were recovered.

[Australia]

I was told by staff at the NZ museum that all items were recovered . Don't know about the other thefts .