A host of war medals honouring a family’s heroism and military service have been stolen.

Medals from two generations of soldiers were taken during a break in in Mitcham earlier this month.

This week Councillor Barbara Mansfield, whose dad and grandad won the 11 medals during the First and Second World Wars, said: “It is so sickening. They have been in the family for 95 years - I feel rotten about losing them.”

Six of the medals were given to Lieutenant Paul Otren Heaney of the King’s Own Lancaster Regiment, who was killed in the action during the First World War.

He was singled out for honours after completing a daring raid behind enemy lines to take supplies for the British forces.

The Peckham man died in October 1914, leaving behind a wife and three children.

The other five medals were awarded to his son, Patrick Paul Heaney, who joined his father’s regiment as a teenager and rose to the rank of captain.

During the Second World War, by which time the family had moved to Streatham Vale, he served in India and Germany.

Burglars broke the lock of the Mansfield’s home in Mitcham Park between 1am and 6am on August 7, and another house on the street was targeted on the same night.

Coun Mansfield, a ward councillor for Lower Morden, first thought that the only items stolen were her husband’s camera and phone.

But she later noticed the medals - which had been hanging in a case on the wall - were gone as well.

They are thought to have a cash value of around £4,000.

A police spokesman said: “Should you have any concerns about your home security and would like some free advice please feel free to get in contact with PC Greg Hunt, crime reduction officer, on 020 8649 3245.

"You can register your property via immobilise.com.”

Anyone with information about the break in should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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