Talana Museum was robbed two days before the annual Talana Live show.
According to Curator, Pam McFadden, the thieves appeared to know exactly what to look for and where the security control panel was. Among the stolen goods the brazen thieves managed to escape with 66 medals from the museum collection.
The biggest concern is that the medals will be sold quickly on the black market. The museum has published a list of the medals below.
If anyone has any information regarding the medals listed below please contact the police or Talana Museum on 034 212 2654.
1.SMITH, William Craighead. J.P. (2 medals)
- South Africa Service medal – no bar (Lieutenant, Buffalo Border Guard). 04/9447
- QSA with “Talana” bar (Dundee Rifle Association).
2.STEER, Alfred J.W. 04/5392
- QSA bar Talana (Dundee Town Guard).
3.WILLSON, Capt. Charles George. M.L.C., J.P.
- South Africa Service Medal (Sergeant Major, Buffalo Border Guard). 04/17
- McKENZIE, John. J.P. (3 medals)
- QSA with bars Talana; Defence of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek; South Africa 1901. 170 Corporal, Natal Carbineers. 04/21
- Natal Rebellion. No bar. Lieutenant and Quartermaster, Natal Carbineers. 04/15
- Long Service Medal J McKenzie 04/19
- MACPHAIL, Duncan Dugald 04/2385
- Natal Rebellion (no bar). Lance Corporal, Natal Carbineers.
- BROCKMAN, C. (2 medals)
- QSA with bars Tugela Heights, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek. 146 Trooper C. Brockman, Umvoti Mounted Rifles. 04/16970
- Natal Rebellion with 1906 bar. Trooper C. Brockman, Msinga Military Reserves. 04/6590
7.GARDNER, W.N. 1213 Trooper. South African Light Horse. 04/16
- QSA bars Cape Colony; Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Laing’s Nek; Belfast.
8.SAUNDERS, J. 731 Corporal. Imperial Light Infantry. 04/16968
- QSA with bars Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek.
9.HARMSWORTH. 2402 Trooper Robert William. Natal Police. (3medals)
- QSA with bars Tugela Heights; Relief of Ladysmith; Cape Colony; Orange Free State; Transvaal.
- Africa service Medal 1939-1945 04/13804
- 1939-1945 War Medal 04/13805
10.HAUTON, Conductor A. Natal Transport. 04/6452
- QSA with no bar.
11.STARZAKER. 1655 Corporal W. Scots Guards. 04/20
- KSA.
12.WHARRAM. 2186 Private M. Johannesburg Mounted Rifles.
- QSA with bars Cape Colony; Transvaal; Orange Free State; South Africa 1901 and 1902. 04/16969
- MAUNDER. 8326 Private F. Royal Army Medical Corps.
- QSA with bars Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek.. 04/2386
- MILLER. 3285 Private D.H. Royal Dublin Fusiliers. (2 medals)
- QSA. Private. Bars Tugela Heights; Orange Free State; Relief of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek. 04/5327
- KSA. Drummer. Bars South Africa 1901 and 1902. 04/16963
- BUNTING, Benjamin Bartle. (4 medals)
- QSA. Bars Defence of Ladysmith; Transvaal; Laing’s Nek. 64 Trooper, Volunteer Composite Regiment. 04/5326
- KSA. Bars South Africa 1901 and 1902. 64 Sergeant, Natal V.C.R. 04/5325
- Natal Rebellion with bar 1906. Sergeant, Natal Carbineers. 04/5324
- Edward VII Coronation Medal in bronze. Unnamed.
- 4 medals showing the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary June 1911. 04/18 1 04/18 2 04/18 3 04/18 4
2 are silver and 2 bronze.
- London School Board Medal awarded to Herbert Head 1889
- Union of South Africa Medal 1910 04/23 1 04/23 2 04/23 3
- Trade tokens presented to Dundee by Dundee Scotland – 18 in total 04/24 numbered 1-24 individually.
- 3 First World War medals awarded to E V Pulford 04/17564
1914-15 Star, 1914-1919 Brittania medal, 1914-1918 George V Medal
- Johannesburg City Council 1886-1966 medal 04/28
- Military Medal issued to RJA McMillan 22. 04/5713
- Republic Medal 1961 04/5331
- Iron Cross 1914 04/1355
- Queen Victoria medal 1890 medal 04/1046
- 1939-1945 04/13805
- Great War for civilization 1914-1919 04/9151
- Union Castle Sports Medal 04/9833
- WW1 star medal 04/9150
- Ribbon 04/9152
- Defence Medal World War ll 04/8172
- 1939-1945 Medal 04/8173
- 1939-1945 Star no name on medal 04/8174
- Africa Service Medal no name on medal 04/8175
- 1947 Royal Visit medals 04/6595 2 of these
- 1947 Royal visit medal 04/6592
- Africa Service Medal 1939-1945 no ribbon or name inscription 04/6453
- Set of 4 miniature medals from 1914-1918 04/6454
- Set of 3 medals to T B Wade 1937 Coronation medal 04/6451
- Africa Service Medal 04/6450
41.Italian Africa Orientale medal – Ethiopia 04/6449
42.Italy Star WW11 Number 613133 V Ridley 04/13875
- Coronation medal of King George and Queen Mary 04/11450
- Pro Patria Medal 04/16714
- Police Faithful Service Medal awarded to Sgt PS Nel 04/15716
- Police Merit Badge stamped on back of medal P S M Nel 18318 20.03.64 04/ 15717
- Group of 5 Italian Medals 04/15522
- Safe driving medal 1947-1949 04/15338
- 1947 Royal visit to South Africa medal 04/15164
- Union of SA Commemorative medal 04/19493
- 1906 badge with 7 small hooks on reverse 04/18105
- Edward Vll and Queen Alexandra medal 04/18069
- Brass medal issued by Dundee to commemorate coronation of Edward Vll 04/18058
- Coronation of Edward and Alexander medal 04/18057 has holes punched in it.
- Dundee Corporation medal issued for coronation of George V and Queen Mary 04/18059
- Silver medal to commemorate silver jubilee of Queen Mary and King George 1910-1935 04/18060 2 medals and medal bar
- Bronze medal for silver jubilee of George V and Queen Mary 04/18061
- Talana Lodge Masonic Lodge medal presented to R Smith 1903 04/18062
- Circular black badge “For King and Empire” number on reverse SA11228 04/18055
- Silver Queen Victoria jubilee medal 1837-1897 04/18056
- Medal for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth ll 04/17713 1
- Commemorative button for coronation of Elizabeth ll 04/17713 2
63 . Miniature A Defence force medal 1994 with number 138175 stamped on reverse 04/17567
- General service medal presented to D Greenhough number 149767 stamped on reverse 04/17566
- Medal to commemorate 1925 Royal visit to SA 04/17562
- Coronation medal for George V and Queen Elizabeth in 1937 04/17561
