SAS: Founder member's medals stolen in burglary

The family of a founding member of the Special Air Service (SAS) say they are devastated at the theft of his medals.

Charlie Marshall served with the Long Range Desert Group, which later became the SAS, during World War Two.

The elite soldiers, commanded by Sir David Stirling, feature in the popular BBC series SAS Rogue Heroes.

Descendant Chris Fowler MBE, whose South Yorkshire home was burgled, said: "We've lost irreplaceable family heirlooms."

South Yorkshire Police confirmed a number of items were reported as stolen following a burglary in Morthen Road, Wickersley near Rotherham, at about 02:15 BST on Thursday 28 September.

Mr Fowler said the SAS man was his great uncle. The soldier died of wounds from fighting in North Africa during the closing stages of the war, he added.

Also stolen were World War One medals belonging to Charlie's father Charles Marshall, a member of the Army Service Corps, as well as several valuable watches.

Mr Fowler said his family watched in horror as intruders ransacked their home.

"We were on holiday in Croatia," he said. "I have a CCTV app and watched it all happen. We were helpless. The police response was rapid but they missed them by four or five minutes."

The Palestine medal, which has a purple and dark green ribbon, and his father's 1914 Star, with red, white and blue ribbon, both display their names on the rim.

Mr Fowler, made an MBE for his work with the Army's Intelligence Corps, added: "We're all absolutely devastated.

"Whoever stole them wouldn't have known who they belonged to or what they stand for.

"They might get a tenner for each medal but to us they're irreplaceable."

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