WWI medals stolen in Rippleside burglary returned to soldier’s son

An ancestry website and retired police officer turned war medal expert have helped Corio police find the rightful owner of two priceless pieces of silverware.

The son of a World War I veteran has been reunited with his father’s service medals more than four years after they were stolen during a burglary.

Ray Berry, 83, thought his father’s war medals were lost forever when thieves broke into his Rippleside home in 2018.

The two service medals – engraved with his father Leslie Berry’s initials – were among a number of items that the thieves swiped.

Ray Berry, the last remaining relative of a WW1 soldier whose medals have now been returned. Picture: David Smith

Leslie Berry was born at Bonnie Doon and enlisted in the Australian Army at the age of 17. He served as a Private in the 4th Light Horse Regiment along the western front.

About six weeks ago Leading Senior Constable Nikki Drever was on shift at the Corio Police Station when the 1914-15 Star medal and 1914-18 Victory medal were handed into the watch house.

The medals were handed in at the Corio Police Station after being missing for more than four years. Picture: David Smith

“When I had them handed into me I understood the value and importance of the medals – particularly WWI medals,” Constable Drever said.

The medals were engraved with the initial L Berry and Constable Drever soon became determined to return the medals to any living relatives.

When her contact with local RSL clubs failed to return results, Constable Drever turned to ancestry.com.au.

Ray Berry and Leading Senior Constable Nikki Drever, who turned her investigation to ancestry.com.au Picture: David Smith

She was later directed to Gary Traynor – a retired NSW policeman who runs a website dedicated to returning missing medals to surviving relatives.

Mr Traynor worked alongside Sandra Thomas, from ancestry.com.au, and they eventually tracked down Mr Berry’s nephew.

He put them in touch with Mr Berry who was able to be reunited with the medals on Monday.

Mr Berry said he never expected to see the medals again, but was pleased they would now stay in the family.

He said he hoped to eventually pass them on to his children and grandchildren.

“These medals have been recovered, fortunately, through the police,” he told the Geelong Advertiser.

“They were stolen about four-and-a-half years ago, so it was a bad loss to us, because they’re memorable things, and you need to have them, and I want to be able to pass them on to my family.”

Constable Drever was also able to provide Mr Berry with copies of his father’s service history and had the medals encased in protective covers.

“I think I just knew it was important for the medals to be returned,” she said.

Originally published as WWI medals stolen in Rippleside burglary returned to soldier’s son