Historically important documents belonging to Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop stolen during Toorak burglary

Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop’s distraught granddaughter has offered a $12,000 reward for the return of the military hero’s stolen items.

A $12,000 reward has been offered for the safe return of documents and medals belonging to lauded military figure Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop.

The items were stolen in a safe heist after the Toorak home of Sir Edward’s granddaughter was broken into last week.

A distraught Diana Dunlop has since announced the generous reward in the hope of having the items, including a World War II briefcast, returned to her.

“I do not care about my material possessions, of which there has been a huge amount stolen, I just want the medals and correspondence returned,” she said.

Some of the documents stolen.

“It includes correspondence and documents from prisoner of war camps, including love letters from my dear granny Helen, as well as important official correspondence and sketches of his experience as a POW.”

Ms Dunlop said the $12,000 reward would be paid from her personal savings.

“Members of the public can confidentially email [e-mail] in relation to the medals’ whereabouts,” she said.

Investigators say Ms Dunlop’s property on Williams Rd was broken into between 7.30pm on December 18 and 11pm on December 19.

Sir Edward’s grandson, also named Edward Dunlop, said the family was shocked by the theft of items treasured by the family.

“They were pretty valuable, a lot of history has been lost,” he said.

Sir Edward’s daughter-in-law, Aurelia Dunlop, said personal things stolen included love letters that Sir Edward wrote to his future wife when he was a Japanese POW.

“It’s devastating, it’s been a nightmare,” she said.

“I just can’t believe that people would do this.”

Ms Dunlop said the family was still upset about the theft several years ago of a samurai sword given to Sir Edward by Japan after the war.

The sword was stolen from a country property owned by the family.

Sir Edward Dunlop outside his Toorak home.

Military antiques specialist John Burridge said the collection as a whole could be valued between $50,000 to $75,000.

“The operative thing is that the medals are kept together,” he said.

“If the medals are separated, they become known as a ‘broken group’, and consequently the value would be slashed considerably.”

Sir Weary Dunlop’s row of medals were in the safe that was stolen.

Mr Burridge said the best thing the thieves can do was hand the medals into their local police station or post office.

“No serious medal collector, public or closeted, would buy ‘Weary’ Dunlop’s medals knowing they’ve been stolen,” he said.

According to Mr Burridge, the global medal-collecting community was very well connected.

“If a Victoria Cross in Canada was stolen today, I would know about it by the end of the week,” he said.

“They’re identifiable, they have his name on them. They are unsellable now.”

Investigators are still working with the victims to ascertain if the complete collection of medals were in the safe in order to create a list of those stolen.

The safe also jewellery and electronics valued at more than $30,000.

Many letters were in the safe when it was stolen.

Stonnington CIU’s Senior Constable Matthew Kirby said the theft happened between December 16 and 19.

“We are pleading to the public, if they know or have any information that could lead to the location of the safe, the medals or correspondence, please call crime stoppers and come forward,” he said.

“We just want to return these documents and medals to the rightful owners, as they hold pretty significant historical and sentimental value, they’re priceless to the owners.”

Sen-Constable Kirby said police were unsure if it was a targeted theft.

“The safe is black and long in nature, it is a safe that one would assume holds firearms, it’s Honeywell branding, so if any member of the public does see the safe and can provide any information that would assist us in locating it, can they please contact crime stoppers,” he said.

“Message to thieves, if they do become aware of the contents of the safe please contact crime stoppers and we will make arrangements from there.

Sir Edward was a military surgeon with the Australian Army in WWII and after serving in North Africa he was captured by the Japanese in 1942.

He was a hero to his fellow POWs for his selfless work in treating the badly beaten and disease-stricken men who suffered harshly at the hands of their Japanese captors.

Sir Edward Dunlop during his time as chairman of the Drug and Alcoholism Dependency Foundation.

After the war he continued to worked in the heath sector and the community, and famously, forgave those who caused such suffering to Australian and Allies POWs during war.

Detectives have released images of the medals and correspondence in the hope that the items will be handed in to police.

Among the medals and honours Sir Edward received were Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George and numerous campaign medals.

Anyone who has any information about the burglary or the location of the documents and medals is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report online.