A HUNDRED years ago, Derby soldier William Roome was preparing to give his life for his country fighting the Germans in the trenches.
A century on, the campaign medals he so bravely earned in the First World War were considered nothing more than fair game by a heartless burglar.
The thief broke into the home of Mr Roome's grandson in Burton Road and took the treasured mementos, along with a football medal awarded to the young William, who had trials with Derby County.
A veterans' leader, ex-sergeant major Alan Derbyshire, of Sunny Hill, said: "To me these people are the scum of the earth."
Mr Roome's grandson, Ian, who had been left the war medals as a teenager, said sadly: "I expect someone will try and sell them on Ebay."
And Lieutenant-Colonel Paul "Shove" Gilby, who commands 400 troops, many of them from Derbyshire, said: "In the 100th year anniversary of the Great War, this criminal has stolen something from the family of a man who fought to afford him the freedom he has."
Pte Roome served with the Machine Gun Corps during the war and had to spend six months recuperating at a rehabilitation centre after contracting trench foot while fighting for his country.
He also had trials with Derby County but was advised against following a career with the Rams in favour of working in the family's mill.
Now, his two silver medals from the 1914-1918 campaign, along with a third silver medal handed to him by Derbyshire Football Association for a cup final win, were taken during the break-in.
Mr Derbyshire, who served with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, is chairman of the Derby branch of the regimental association.
He said: "Having been burgled myself, I totally understand what this man is going through.
"I wholeheartedly condemn any theft of military medals and memorabilia which have enormous sentimental value to those who they have been left to, but virtually no monetary value to those that have stolen them."
Ian, 67, said he had kept the war medals in a box that was hidden away on top of a cupboard.
The burglary happened as he was grieving for his mother Ena, of nearby Whitaker Road, who is to be cremated at Markeaton Chapel after she died two weeks ago at the age of 102.
He said: "I am not a sentimental person but I do feel extremely annoyed and I don't like the fact that someone has come to my home and pinched something that belongs to me.
"I didn't actually have the medals out on show, keeping them in a well hidden place. They were stored away so I can't remember what the inscriptions were. But they were hallmarked and sterling silver."
Ian said his father rarely spoke about his grandfather's service during the First World War and as such he does not know where he saw action fighting against the Germans. But he said one story he remembers was how his grandfather, who died in his 80s in the 1960s, was discharged from the Army. He said: "He served with the Machine Gun Corps but his time serving was never spoken about by the family.
"I do recall being told that he contracted trench foot and was send to a rehabilitation centre called Selby Hall where he spent six months recuperating.
"As a family we grew up in Norfolk and one thing that did unite us was our support for Derby County.
"I was told my grandfather had a trial at Derby. He was a very fast winger, by all accounts.
"But the family owned a mill in the city near to where the university halls of residence now stand. He was told he would earn more money that way than following a career in football."
Ian, who repairs musical instruments for a living, said the break-in occurred while he was away in Ireland between July 1 and 6. The thief used a limestone fossil that he had outside his home to smash a window and get in.
He said: "Today is also the funeral of my mother who is due to be cremated at Markeaton. I am due to scatter her ashes up at the Chevin, near Duffield, where my grandfather was born and raised.
"They also took a silver pocket watch which holds great sentimental value as it was given to me by the family of a former colleague of my father and dates back to the 1800s.
"I feel very sad that all this has gone."
