Veteran receives new medals after old set stolen

Tony Bird found out his medals were stolen after he put his belongings into storage

A D-Day veteran has been presented with new World War Two medals 55 years after his original set was stolen.

Tony Bird, 101, from Freshwater East, Pembrokeshire, served in the Royal Navy during the conflict.

He moved from Gloucestershire to Pembrokeshire in 1970, and put his belongings in storage because the house he purchased was not ready.

"I discovered about two years later that they had been stolen," he said.

Mr Bird is one of the only remaining veterans in Wales that took part in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, in 1944.

After the war, Mr Bird was posted to Asia, before he left the Royal Navy in 1946 to enter the family agricultural engineering business.

In an event held by Military Veterans Club Cymru in Glanaman, Carmarthenshire, on Monday, he was given new medals to honour his bravery.

"I didn't really miss them. But, nowadays with these marvellous volunteers commemorating the D-Days, VJ-Days, VE-Days, one needs to wear one's medals," he said.

"My children will be very pleased to have them. I've got three children so I'll have to divide them up."

Tony Bird has now received new medals

He was described as a "very modest" man by the club's chairman Owen Dobson, who said that Mr Bird did not want any fuss.

"We have managed to convince him today to come along and have his medals presented," Mr Dobson said.

"It's vitally important for Tony and his family, and of course the wider public, because the things they did for our freedom today should never be forgotten."

As the veterans' club celebrated its first birthday during the event, entertainer Max Boyce attended as a special guest.

"These are remarkable people, and Tony with all his medals, he's an inspiration to us all," he said.

Mr Bird is one of the only remaining veterans in Wales that took part in the D-Day landings in Normandy