Families relieved at return; anger at reward

Doug Elliott, son of WWII hero Keith Elliott, was thrilled at their return. Photo / Herald on Sunday

The daughter of World War II hero Captain Charles Upham, whose Victoria Cross and Bar were among medals stolen from Waiouru, said last night she felt "quite sick" to learn the thieves had benefited from the reward.

Amanda Upham, was shocked when the Herald on Sunday told her. "That's disgraceful," she said.

Anita Hulme, the daughter of war hero Clive Hulme, also did not know part of the $300,000 reward had gone to the thieves. "It means everybody wants to go out and steal so they can get the reward."

But she also saw its purpose. "I just think they got them back and people got the reward. I guess that's how it happens. I did hear one of the police say it would not absolve them from prosecution," she said.

"That's what the reward was put up for, to get them back."

Amanda Upham was hugely relieved and "absolutely delighted" at the news of the safe return of the stolen medals.

"Hugely relieved, but I was always optimistic that they would be found."

Upham said she heard the news while she was working in her garden. "I thought it was a hoax, as I thought when they were stolen."

She thought there could be a safer way to display the medals in the future. "It would be good if they were replicas, as they do in Australia."

Upham was keen to find out who the culprits were. "I don't think they should almost be allowed [to continue] to be a New Zealander. They should do a lot of community work for a long time. I think they should have every Saturday for the next five years doing something for the Army."

Hulme feared the medals may have gone as far as Russia. "You can't believe how happy I am." She had been told the medals were intact, which also quelled her fears that they had been damaged by the thieves.

Hulme said she was still happy to have the originals on display at the Waiouru Museum, provided they were behind break-proof glass.

"You would never have thought they would have been stolen from Waiouru. My mum and dad had them in a bedroom drawer for years."

Hulme said she wanted to know the culprits' reasons.

Doug Elliott, the son of World War II hero Keith Elliott, attended yesterday's press conference in Palmerston North to hear the news before phoning family.

"We're all delighted," he said. "I was in two minds whether they would finish up in the Huka Falls or in Lake Taupo."

Elliott was also in the dark about the reward money, and said he would rather keep neutral about it.

The reward was offered last month by British medal collector, Lord Michael Ashcroft, and Nelson businessman Tom Sturgess, a former US Marine.

Last night, Sturgess, who put up $100,000 of the reward, declined to comment on whether it was right or wrong the thieves benefited from the money. He said it was "great" the medals are back.

"I was hoping it would happen. I put the money up to get the medals back and that's happened and I'm very very happy.

"I don't know the circumstances. I have no idea who did what. The police and the justice system and the police can decide who, what, why and where."