A Second World War veterans nostalgic trip to Normandy was cut short – after a burglar ransacked his home in Wales.
Former Royal Marine Eric Vaughan, 94, of Prestatyn, was making his first trip back to where he landed with commando reinforcements following D-Day in 1944 when a neighbour called with bad news.
Luckily the pensioner, awarded the French Legion dhonneur, had taken his war service medals with him, but the intruder stole his jack-knife issued in 1942.
What was the point of all of that?, he asked. It makes your blood boil.
Mr Vaughan added: Im very disappointed by what happened. You cant take everything with you. You lock up your house and think its secure.
More than 120,000 schoolchildren homeless during summer holidays
I havent lost hundreds of pounds worth of stuff but things which to me meant a lot.
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He also lost a Rotary watch given to him by his wife for his 70th birthday and a second watch of sentimental importance.
The former factory worker who joined the Marines in 1942 and was demobbed in 1946, had also served in North Africa and Italy, losing dozens of colleagues.
After being told of the sickening raid in North Wales, he and wife Beryl left the cruise ship on a tender to St Malo and took a taxi to Dinard before flying back to East Midlands airport.
Mr Vaughan said : I had hoped to go to Honfleur to see it now.
More: UK
Police are investigating the burglary.
A local man said : Lets hope they catch the low-life responsible. To do this to a war veteran is appalling.
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