World War I medals stolen from Collingwood home, family pleads for their return Troy Dafter had his great grandfather's prized war medals stolen from his Collingwood home and has pleaded with the burglar to return them. The prized medals. A MAN who had his great-grandfather's prized war medals stolen from his home has pleaded with the burglar to return them. "The medals are irreplaceable and hold immense value to our family," Troy Dafter said. We just want them back. If you know who has them or if you have them yourself, just drop them off at a police station. The World War I medals were among several items stolen from Mr Dafter's Collingwood home . He had planned to proudly wear them on Anzac Day in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing next year. Mr Dafter returned to his Easey St home to find the door kicked in and personal items including a laptop, keys and the beloved medals missing on November 16. Three days later, most of his belongings were found in an abandoned, stolen early model white Holden panel van in Little Hanover St, Fitzroy. But the medals remained missing. Mr Dafter's great grandfather, Jim Dafter, was a member of the 21st infantry brigade aboard Gallipoli-bound HMT Southland when it was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine. Forty of the men on board perished, however he survived and went on to serve the remainder of the war in the mud and horror of the western front. Mr Dafter said his great-grandfather's war diary, found in an old flour sack on a family property about five years ago, detailed the horror he endured during the Gallipoli battle. The last entry was written in 1916 and reads: "I am no longer inclined to keep a diary of this war, for it has gone on too long and I have seen too much to want to record it any longer." Mr Dafter said the medals would only be worth about $10 each, adding "but they are priceless for me and my family." "The timing couldn't have been worse as I planned to wear them," he said. Please help me commemorate my great grandfather's bravery and service to our country. Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au Originally published as Family pleads with burglar to give back prized war medals