Talana Museum medal collection stolen

In an apparently targeted theft, the Talana Museum's medal collection has been stolen. The well-organised thieves used drills and angle-grinders to break through three steel doors to enter the Armoury, where the Museum's safes are kept. Explosives were still attached to some safes, but not detonated.

Brett

Hi Brett
Will Pam be able to publish a medal list for us to post on the forum?

Regards

I heard about it on the Ian Knight F/B page . I think there were 40 or so medals that were stolen , not sure how many were SAGS , Dugald Macphail's medal was one of the stolen one's ! .
90th

I expect that Ian will get a list as soon as anyone and publish it on his site, but I will certainly post one here as soon as I get it.
Regards
Brett

Thanks Brett , there are some Medal collectors and a couple that are members of the British Medal Forum that are on Ian's FB
page , lets hope sooner than later a list is prepared .
90th

Hi All,
Here is a list of what was stolen, lets hope they catch who was responsible and the medals are recovered and returned to there rightful place. Published from the Newcastle Advertiser.
cheers
Richie
1.SMITH, William Craighead. J.P. (2 medals)
•South Africa Service medal – no bar (Lieutenant, Buffalo Border Guard). 04/9447
•QSA with “Talana” bar (Dundee Rifle Association).



2.STEER, Alfred J.W. 04/5392
•QSA bar Talana (Dundee Town Guard).



3.WILLSON, Capt. Charles George. M.L.C., J.P.
•South Africa Service Medal (Sergeant Major, Buffalo Border Guard). 04/17


4.McKENZIE, John. J.P. (3 medals)


•QSA with bars Talana; Defence of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek; South Africa 1901. 170 Corporal, Natal Carbineers. 04/21
•Natal Rebellion. No bar. Lieutenant and Quartermaster, Natal Carbineers. 04/15
•Long Service Medal J McKenzie 04/19


5.MACPHAIL, Duncan Dugald 04/2385
•Natal Rebellion (no bar). Lance Corporal, Natal Carbineers.


6.BROCKMAN, C. (2 medals)
•QSA with bars Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek. 146 Trooper C. Brockman, Umvoti Mounted Rifles. 04/16970
•Natal Rebellion with 1906 bar. Trooper C. Brockman, Msinga Military Reserves. 04/6590



7.GARDNER, W.N. 1213 Trooper. South African Light Horse. 04/16
•QSA bars Cape Colony; Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Laing’s Nek; Belfast.



8.SAUNDERS, J. 731 Corporal. Imperial Light Infantry. 04/16968
•QSA with bars Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek.



9.HARMSWORTH. 2402 Trooper Robert William. Natal Police. (3medals)
•QSA with bars Tugela Heights; Relief of Ladysmith; Cape Colony; Orange Free State; Transvaal.
•Africa service Medal 1939-1945 04/13804
•1939-1945 War Medal 04/13805



10.HAUTON, Conductor A. Natal Transport. 04/6452
•QSA with no bar.



11.STARZAKER. 1655 Corporal W. Scots Guards. 04/20
•KSA.



12.WHARRAM. 2186 Private M. Johannesburg Mounted Rifles.
•QSA with bars Cape Colony; Transvaal; Orange Free State; South Africa 1901 and 1902. 04/16969


13.MAUNDER. 8326 Private F. Royal Army Medical Corps.
•QSA with bars Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek.. 04/2386


14.MILLER. 3285 Private D.H. Royal Dublin Fusiliers. (2 medals)
•QSA. Private. Bars Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek. 04/5327
•KSA. Drummer. Bars South Africa 1901 and 1902. 04/16963


15.BUNTING, Benjamin Bartle. (4 medals)
•QSA. Bars Defence of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek. 64 Trooper, Volunteer Composite Regiment. 04/5326
•KSA. Bars South Africa 1901 and 1902. 64 Sergeant, Natal V.C.R. 04/5325
•Natal Rebellion with bar 1906. Sergeant, Natal Carbineers. 04/5324
•Edward VII Coronation Medal in bronze. Unnamed.


16.4 medals showing the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary June 1911. 04/18 1 04/18 2 04/18 3 04/18 4

2 are silver and 2 bronze.


17.London School Board Medal awarded to Herbert Head 1889


18.Union of South Africa Medal 1910 04/23 1 04/23 2 04/23 3


19.Trade tokens presented to Dundee by Dundee Scotland – 18 in total 04/24 numbered 1-24 individually.


20.3 First World War medals awarded to E V Pulford 04/17564

1914-15 Star, 1914-1919 Brittania medal, 1914-1918 George V Medal


21.Johannesburg City Council 1886-1966 medal 04/28


22.Military Medal issued to RJA McMillan 22. 04/5713


23.Republic Medal 1961 04/5331


24.Iron Cross 1914 04/1355


25.Queen Victoria medal 1890 medal 04/1046


26.1939-1945 04/13805


27.Great War for civilization 1914-1919 04/9151


28.Union Castle Sports Medal 04/9833


29.WW1 star medal 04/9150


30.Ribbon 04/9152


31.Defence Medal World War ll 04/8172


32.1939-1945 Medal 04/8173


33.1939-1945 Star no name on medal 04/8174


34.Africa Service Medal no name on medal 04/8175


35.1947 Royal Visit medals 04/6595 2 of these


36.1947 Royal visit medal 04/6592


37.Africa Service Medal 1939-1945 no ribbon or name inscription 04/6453


38.Set of 4 miniature medals from 1914-1918 04/6454


39.Set of 3 medals to T B Wade 1937 Coronation medal 04/6451


40.Africa Service Medal 04/6450



41.Italian Africa Orientale medal – Ethiopia 04/6449



42.Italy Star WW11 Number 613133 V Ridley 04/13875


43.Coronation medal of King George and Queen Mary 04/11450


44.Pro Patria Medal 04/16714


45.Police Faithful Service Medal awarded to Sgt PS Nel 04/15716


46.Police Merit Badge stamped on back of medal P S M Nel 18318 20.03.64 04/ 15717


47.Group of 5 Italian Medals 04/15522


48.Safe driving medal 1947-1949 04/15338


49.1947 Royal visit to South Africa medal 04/15164


50.Union of SA Commemorative medal 04/19493


51.1906 badge with 7 small hooks on reverse 04/18105


52.Edward Vll and Queen Alexandra medal 04/18069


53.Brass medal issued by Dundee to commemorate coronation of Edward Vll 04/18058


54.Coronation of Edward and Alexander medal 04/18057 has holes punched in it.


55.Dundee Corporation medal issued for coronation of George V and Queen Mary 04/18059


56.Silver medal to commemorate silver jubilee of Queen Mary and King George 1910-1935 04/18060 2 medals and medal bar


57.Bronze medal for silver jubilee of George V and Queen Mary 04/18061


58.Talana Lodge Masonic Lodge medal presented to R Smith 1903 04/18062


59.Circular black badge “For King and Empire” number on reverse SA11228 04/18055


60.Silver Queen Victoria jubilee medal 1837-1897 04/18056


61.Medal for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth ll 04/17713 1


62.Commemorative button for coronation of Elizabeth ll 04/17713 2



63 . Miniature A Defence force medal 1994 with number 138175 stamped on reverse 04/17567


64.General service medal presented to D Greenhough number 149767 stamped on reverse 04/17566


65.Medal to commemorate 1925 Royal visit to SA 04/17562


66.Coronation medal for George V and Queen Elizabeth in 1937 04/17561

Hi All,
A sad day for the Talana museum.
I think that the stolen "Steer" medal mentioned may have belonged to Dartnell's son-in-law.

regards,

barry

I have heard that Dugald Macphail's medal wasn't at Talana , can we get in confirmed either way ?
Cheers 90th

It was his son's 1906 Rebellion Medal that was stolen.
Regards
Brett

Thanks Brett , much appreciated .
90th

http://newcastleadvertiser.co.za/67735/appeal-thieves-make-off-with-talana-museum-medals/

Hi All
A tiny piece of good news re the Talana Museum Heist ; in that Medal number 3 , the South African Service Medal to Capt George Wilson wasn't stolen , it's still with the Museum .
90th

They will be hard to sell with all the publicity. Let's hope there not destroyed.

These were obviously well informed thieves who were after specific items
I never thought the militaria community would be involved in something like this
Quite unbelievable
Usually when thieves break in in SoutH Africa they pinch alcohol and a DVD player and bicycle

The Internet renders stolen items unsellable. The speed of information from one country to another is in creditable.

If you see any of these or have any information on their whereabouts.

•Contact name : Curator Talana Museum
•Contact email : info@talana.co.za
•Also see :  http://www.talana.co.za

Hi folks.....re. the Talana break-in, has there been any good news forthcoming ? I see this happened in 2015 so I must admit I am a little behind the times....but this is Africa after all !!

Hi Peter Gee
Geez , it was a while ago now , I don't think anything came out of the break in , I don't think much , if anything was recovered ? .
They currently have a more serious threat now , I believe it's struggling financially , and may well go under..... if the Lock down doesn't end fairly soon in Sth Africa ! ?
90th