A 90-YEAR-OLD war hero whose Veteran’s Badge was stolen by burglars has been sent a replacement.
The Veteran’s Badge presented to Tom Calderbank was stolen from his flat at Coombe Park Court, Little Sutton, last month.
He was presented with the badge six years ago for his work as a wireless operator in the RAF during the Second World War.
Mr Calderbank was not in the flat at the time of the raid after being temporarily moved into a home in Frodsham.
After news of the theft was reported in the Pioneer, Frank McHugh, of Rossmore, who served in Northern Ireland and the Falklands, stepped forward to offer a spare one he was sent in error.
Mr McHugh was surprised to find he was delivered two in 2005 and was keen for his spare to find a good home with Mr Calderbank.
But news of the theft had spread even further afield, and Mr Calderbank’s daughter Jackie Wilson, of Hooton, took a call from the Veterans Organisation to say they were prepared to send a replacement.
She said: “I spoke to Frank and the following morning, I got a message from the Veterans Organisation saying they were going to send out a new one.
“They had one delivered the following day.”
Ellesmere Port and Neston MP Andrew Miller, who presented Mr Calderbank with his badge, expressed his disgust at the time of the theft.
Police are appealing for witnesses after the block of flats was targeted between midnight and 3.40am on Wednesday, November 9. Anyone with any information should call Ellesmere Port Proactive Policing Team on 101, quoting incident 81 of November 9.
