Army museum's director confronts his fears

Colonel Raymond Seymour travelled to Greece with Charles Upham. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Colonel Raymond Seymour finally saw the Valour Alcove on Thursday night, almost six days after thieves ransacked what he calls "the nation's treasure trove of military memorabilia".

"I was devastated," the retired colonel, who is the director of Waiouru's Army Museum, told the Weekend Herald yesterday.

Earlier, he confessed he was dreading seeing the trashed heart of the museum.

"It's not going to be easy because this is going to be the first time I see what these bastards have done."

The 60-year-old, who served in Vietnam, knew many of the recipients of the precious medals, including double Victoria Cross winner Captain "Charlie" Upham, who was with him on a trip to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the battles of Greece and Crete in 1981. "He was proudly wearing his VC and Bar," Colonel Seymour said.

Each day since the theft, the colonel has fronted in the only areas of the museum open to the public, graciously talking to journalists and visitors, holding babies and signing autographs.

He stands out in his green uniform and polished black shoes, his own medals displayed proudly on his chest.

His passion for military history is obvious and he willingly shares his personal war stories, telling the Weekend Herald about the 308 pieces of shrapnel that surged through his body when he was hit by an anti-personnel mine in Vietnam on March 18, 1968.

This week, he has acted as a stalwart for his staff and also defended the museum against accusations of lax security, saying that up to the time of the crime he believed the security was more than adequate.

But inside his office, the stress shows as he slumps against a table, head in his hands and revealing that he has slept even less than usual in the past few nights.

The colonel says he is unable to rest while Captain Upham's medals and the other VCs, George Crosses and assorted awards belonging to some of the country's greatest war heroes - and his friends - remain in the hands of thieves.

"I'm just pleading with them to come forward so that New Zealand's treasures and taonga can be returned to their rightful place."

* Police continued their scene examination yesterday, 16 army officers and a specialist police search team from Wellington joining detectives at the museum.