Sheffield World War Two veteran presented with new medals in emotional ceremony after thieves stole his original ones

Denis Gregory, 93, originally received four medals for his service in the Royal Navy between 1943 and 1946.

He was aboard the HMS Indefatigable aircraft carrier when it was hit by a Kamikaze pilot's plane and part of the firefighting team which put out the blaze and saved the vessel.

The great grandad-of-four was left heartbroken after thieves stole the pins from his home in April 2018 and took to Facebook to help find replacement medals.

Denis was shocked when four strangers organised a special presentation ceremony at his home in Sheffield

He said: “I was so happy to have my medals back because they were my medals, I earned them.

“It was important for me to have them back and I am so grateful to everyone who made that possible.

“It was so surprising and I didn’t expect any of it.

“The ceremony, and the lengths people went to to help me was incredible.”

The 93-year-old war veteran’s wife, Irene died two years ago and it was after she passed away that he realised he couldn’t find his medals.

“When I came home I looked for my medals everywhere but I couldn’t find them.

“I remembered that we had been robbed just before Irene passed.

“I was so upset and I couldn’t let it go.”

The surprise ceremony which featured drummers and buglers from the Royal Marine was held outside Denis’ home on Friday May 29 and was conducted by Commodore Phil Waterhouse, Naval Regional Commander for the North of England and Isle of Man.

They presented the veteran with his four medals - a 1939 to 1945 Star, an Atlantic Star (France and Germany bar), a Burma Star (Pacific bar), and a 1939-1945 War Medal.

The grandad-of-three explained how it felt to be presented with the awards.

“I was embarrassed, really”, he said.

“There were so many people and I didn’t expect anything like this.

“The people who got the medals for me, they did so much, so much more than I expected.

“But they’ve all been so brilliant at arranging the replacement medals.

“I wish I could have given everyone tea but I couldn’t, which I was embarrassed about.

“When someone comes round you always put the kettle on.

“I’ve shed so many tears this weekend, people can be so kind.”

Denis’ son Robert, 68, said he was incredibly moved by the ceremony and that his father was a “source of pride and inspiration”.

Robert, fondly known as Bob, added: “For months Denis was getting obsessed about getting his medals.

“They were really important to him and after mum died I think that was just something he needed to do.

“He was over the moon when we were told that they’d found his four medal replacements, and that they wanted to do a ceremony.

“I’ve got nothing but respect for everyone who helped make this a reality for him, it’s meant everything.”