Military Medal taken by burglars

Sgt William Houghton crossed enemy lines to save a wounded comrade

Burglars have stolen a Military Medal awarded to a World War I hero from a house just miles from the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

Police said the medal was taken from a house in Deepmore Close, Alrewas, during the weekend.

It was given to Sgt William Houghton who crossed enemy lines to save a wounded comrade in July 1918.

Hundreds marked the 90th anniversary of the end of World War I on Remembrance Sunday at the memorial in Alrewas.

Sgt Houghton, who was in the King's Liverpool Regiment, was the father-in-law of the house's owner.

'Exceptional acts'

Jewellery and a 42-inch television were also taken during the burglary.

"This was a callous theft which has left the family devastated," Pc Wayne Rogers, of Staffordshire Police, said.

"The medal is only given for exceptional acts of bravery and I would appeal for anyone with information about the theft to contact police as a matter of urgency."

Officers think his medal may have been offered to a collector or a second-hand dealer.

They have urged anyone who may be offered a Military Medal to contact them.

The National Memorial Arboretum was opened in 2007 and honours those killed in combat and training as well as by acts of terrorism.

Its stone circle contains the names of 16,000 service personnel who have died since World War II.

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The medal was awarded to WWI hero William Houghton