Firefighter's Family Get Stolen Medals Back

The family of a senior fire-fighter, who was appointed Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire Service in the 1970s, has been reunited with their late father’s medals that were stolen over 10 years ago.

Sir Kenneth Holland CBE QFSM FIFireE joined the fire service in 1937 and served with distinction during World War Two before rising to the position of Chief Fire Officer for West Riding in 1966.

In 1972 Sir Kenneth was appointed Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire Service. He retired to Dorset and passed away in June 2005.

Sir Kenneth was the victim of a burglary in 2000 when living in Dorset and, sadly, his medals were stolen.

In May 2010, some of the medals were found to be for sale on the online auction site e-Bay.

Police Constable Aimee Garner undertook the task of tracking down the medals and contacted various auction houses. Medals were recovered from as far away as New Zealand.

Sergeant Cheyne Marley has now returned Sir Kenneth’s 20 medals to his sons Peter and Keith and his daughter Jackie in Poole.

Peter Holland CBE OStJ QFSM FIFireE followed in his father’s footsteps in joining the Fire Service and is now Chief Fire Officer for Lancashire.

After receiving the medals from Sergeant Marley, Peter Holland said:

“After the burglary replacement medals were made, but these were never the same as the ones presented by the Queen.

“We would like to thank Dorset Police, and Police Constable Garner in particular, for recovering these medals.”

Sergeant Cheyne Marley, of Poole police, said:

“I am delighted that we have been able to reunite these medals with the Holland family.

“Sir Kenneth Holland clearly deserved all the medals that he received through his lifetime of exceptional public service, and I am pleased that these medals are back with his family.”

Pictured: Peter Holland (left) with his sister Jackie and brother Keith with their father’s medals.