By Nigel Maxwell

Story of valour and bravery behind missing medals

Nov 7, 2014 | 5:20 AM

The person who stole three military medals from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch in Big River last weekend, remains a mystery.

The medals belonged to Sgt. Ivery Newton, a member of the Fort Garry Horse Regiment, which is based in Manitoba.

Lt. Colonel Dave Kolton is commanding officer at Fort Garry, and he was very upset by the news of the theft.

“We’re talking about a veteran of the war that most historians consider Canada’s involvement in was when we went from being considered a colony to being a nation on the international stage,” said Kolton.

The War and Victory Medals were awarded to all Canadians who fought in France during the First World War. The third medal was only awarded to soldiers who displayed great acts of bravery.

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Newton, had led his section, during an attack at Bois-du-Mont-Aux-Villes Wood. They managed to capture a machine gun.

“The fact that he did what he did as a private speaks volumes of the leadership ability he had, because privates generally don’t lead charges,” said Kolton.

He added the value of the medal is priceless.

“Here’s a man who helped make sure that potentially his squadron of over 100 soldiers was protected by the fact that he took that machine gun nest, and to do that kind of valour and bravery, I just can’t fathom why someone would take these,” said Kolton.

Along with the medals, the thief also took a knife and book that belonged to Sgt. Newton.

Speaking with the Big River RCMP on Thursday, they said they had no viable leads as of yet.

Kolton said it should be very easy for any collector or shop owner to spot the medals, as they are all engraved on the rim with Newton’s regiment number, rank, and name.  And if by chance the person who stole the medals is reading this article, Kolton has a message for them.

“If you could, quietly sneak back into the legion and return the medals, maybe not in the case, but at least somewhere in the legion where someone will find them, no harm done and no foul,” he said.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell