War poet Wilfred Owen's Military Cross stolen

A Military Cross medal and cigarette case that belonged to war poet Wilfred Owen are believed to have been stolen.

The Oswestry-born writer, who also lived in Shrewsbury, is recognised as one of the greatest voices of the First World War.

His nephew Peter Owen, who lives in Surrey, said the treasured items were usually kept in a safe but they went missing from his house last summer.

He said: "Wilfred never saw the Military Cross, it was handed to his father after he died. It was passed down the family to his brother, Harold, and then to us.

"We had some friends from Canada to stay in May last year and we got it out of the safe to show them. I put it away in what I thought was a secure place.

"When I went to find it again in July to show some other friends, it had gone. I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach and we reported it to the police.

"A cigarette case which was certainly used by Wilfred has also gone. It had an 1893 silver mark on it."

The medal is engraved on the reverse side to Wilfred ES Owen and the Fonsomme Line and is boxed in a purple case with the ribbon and a chain.

Information to the Wilfred Owen Association website by e-mailing woa@1914-18.co.uk or wilfredowen1918@googlemail.com