QEII Army Memorial Museum

The QEII Army Memorial Museum at Waiouru, New Zealand is the main museum of the New Zealand Army. It is in the middle of the North Island on State Highway 1, near the Waiouru Army Base. There are several armored vehicles and artillery pieces on open air displays around the museum building.

The Museum includes the Kippenberger Research Library which commemorates the notable New Zealand soldier of World War II, Sir Howard Kippenberger.

Medal theft

The Museum had a number of Victoria Crosses on display in the "Valour Alcove" of the "Lower Gallery." On December 2, 2007, 96 medals were stolen from locked, reinforced glass cabinets in the Museum. On 16 February 2008 New Zealand Police announced all the medals had been recovered as a result of a NZ$300,000 reward offered by Michael Ashcroft and Tom Sturgess, a former United States marine. [ [http://police.govt.nz/news/release/3701.html Stolen War Medals Recovered] ]

The medals stolen included nine Victoria Crosses: [cite web |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/4307013a11.html |title= History of honour for recipients of stolen VCs |publisher= NZPA |accessdate= 2007-12-02]

*Leslie Andrew, 1917
*Keith Elliott, 1942
*Samuel Frickleton, 1917 (in addition to his Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal) [ [http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/media-releases/20071202-srtom.htm NZDF - Statement regarding theft of medals] ]
*John Gildroy Grant, 1918
*John Daniel Hinton, 1941
*Alfred Hulme, 1941
*Reginald Stanley Judson, 1918
*Harry John Laurent, 1918
*Charles Upham, 1941-42 (both the VC and bar)

Also stolen were two George Crosses (David Russell and Ken Hudson) and an Albert Medal (Randolph Ridling).cite web |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10479634 |title= Army medal theft 'insult' to our nation's heritage |publisher= New Zealand Herald |accessdate= 2007-12-02]

It appears that the museum was previously holding 13 VCs, of which 2, those of Charles Upham and Percy Valentine Storkey, were on loan. There were 4 VCs left behind:
*Thomas Cooke, 1916
*Bernard Diamond, 1857
*William James Hardham, 1901
*Percy Valentine Storkey, 1918

References

* [http://msn.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10493463&ref=rss Gang kingpin exposed as medals broker]

ee also

*Medal theft

External links

* [http://www.armymuseum.co.nz/ QEII Army Memorial Museum website]
* [http://www.army.mil.nz/ New Zealand Army website]
* [http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/ New Zealand Defence Force Website]
* [http://www.police.govt.nz/operation/valour/ Police List of stolen medals (with colour photos)]
* [http://www.police.govt.nz/operation/valour/list-of-stolen-medals.html Police Itemized list of stolen medals]