War medals stolen

Ten medals from three Kiwi war veterans were stolen from the Napier daughter of a World War II hero while she was holidaying with friends she met on the beaches of Gallipoli.

Maureen Paviour, 73, was spending two weeks on Stewart Island after catching up with New Zealand and American friends in Akaroa, whom she had met at Gallipoli during a pilgrimage to family war graves in Turkey last year.

After being phoned on February 7 when neighbours noticed signs of a break-in at her Tamatea home, she returned on Thursday to find her house ransacked.

"They were on the hunt for jewellery. Luckily, my better stuff was well hidden but they found the box. The box of medals."

The brazen thieves had stolen Ms Paviour's TV and even her car, but those were insignificant compared to the generations of history engraved on 10 war medals, including a more than 100-year-old Boer War service medal.

Four of the medals belonged to her father, Wilfred Paul Bull, a highly decorated Royal New Zealand Air Force veteran who spent one year and 215 days fighting his way through the Pacific battlefields of the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.

Mr Bull, who held the rank of leading aircraftsman when Japan surrendered in 1945, was awarded the Pacific Star, 1939-45 Star, World War II Medal and New Zealand Service War Medal.

Five medals belonged to her sharp-shooting uncle Charles Henry Sebelin, who was a farmer in Eketahuna before joining the New Zealand Infantry at the outbreak of World War II.

"Uncle Charlie was a great shot, he was a sniper in the war. Probably because of his farming days," she said.

Charles Sebelin rose to the rank of staff sergeant while fighting the Germans and Italians during the North African and Italian campaigns. For his valour he was awarded the Africa Star, Italy Star, 1939-45 Star, World War II Medal and New Zealand Service War Medal.

Also stolen in the raid was her grandfather's Boer War service medal.

The rare medal, awarded to Private Thomas Sebelin, is 113-years old and for Ms Sebelin's family a precious heirloom.

"It's a horrible feeling knowing they have been in your home, especially knowing they have gone through drawers containing your clothes. It's an invasion of your privacy," Ms Paviour said.

She was holding on to hope that the medals would be returned and felt the burglary was worse having come during the year of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

"I'm a war baby, I was born in 1942. There will be a lot of people out there like me [with war medals]. I hope this will send a message and warn people."

Ms Paviour's daughter in law Tracy Bull said police had lifted a fingerprint from the home and found a sock they believe was used to hide fingerprints.

-Anyone with information regarding the stolen war medals is asked to contact Hawke's Bay police on 06 837 0100 or anonymously on Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111.