John and Penny Taylor had given up on ever reclaiming war medals stolen from their Goulburn home in 2022.
But concerted super sleuthing by two military researchers and an ex-Navy policeman has restored their faith in human kindness.
The medals were among several items taken from the Taylors' house into which they were moving in December, 2022. Intruders had gained entry when they weren't home, stolen a small number of possessions, and dumped some in a bin as they left.
The World War Two and other medals, which Penny had inherited from her father, Royal Air Force Wing Commander John Hodgson Woffindin, weren't among the dumped items. The thieves also made off with an attached OBE (Officer of the British Empire) awarded to her father in 1951 for his Air Force service, and a small bronze oak leaf spray recognising his mention in despatches for meritorious action.
"Penny was absolutely gutted. It was the only thing of value because all the other things were replaceable," he said.
"...We hoped to get them back because police advised us if they fell into a collector's hands, there was a chance."
However, in recent months the family decided to seek replacement medals from the British Ministry of Defence. They wouldn't be original, but it was something, Mr Taylor said.
About the same time, Constable Matt James and his colleague attended a Bevendale property in May, 2026 as part of an investigation into stolen property. They uncovered stolen items, including two sets of war medals in a small esky.
Constable James, who served in the Royal Australian Navy from 2011 to 2017, took a particular interest. In a social media post, the Hume Police District called for public assistance to return the medals to their rightful owner.
A colleague of Canberra military researcher, Daryl Johnson, spotted the post and alerted him. Mr Johnson has served in the Army for 46 years.
"I researched and came up with the name of one of the medals' recipients quite quickly, but (John Woffindin's) took more delving," Mr Johnson said.
"He was born in England, was in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and emigrated to Australia in 1976."
Mr Johnson said the OBE was dated but had no name. However, the long service medal included a name and from this, he connected it to the RAF and the OBE. After cross-checking service records, he identified Woffindin as the medals' recipient.
But finding his next of kin was another matter. Mr Johnson consulted his good friend Glyn Llanwarne AM OAM, with whom he served in the Army. Llanware specialises in tracking down families linked to lost or stolen medals.
"It was a joint effort. I've been doing military research for 50 years but we both have a passion for getting medals back to family and we get a lot of joy out of it," Mr Johnson said.
Constable James liaised with the pair and once he had a name, contacted the Taylors.
"We found them pretty quickly. It was a good feeling to reconnect them with the owner," Constable James said
Mr Taylor said his wife would be thrilled by their return.
"She'll be very pleased because she was devastated when they were taken," he said.
Penny was one of three children born to John Woffindin and his wife.
He was born in 1907 in Portsmouth, wanted to be a teacher but limited by family finances, joined the RAF as a cadet in 1924. He rose to warrant officer, then pilot officer and later took a commission before retiring as wing commander in 1959.
He served on aircraft carrier HMS Furious from 1927 to 1930 and spent several years in Egypt.
Woffindin moved to the United States during World War Two and was based at Pensacola Naval Air Force Base.
Mr Taylor said after the war, Woffindin was stationed in the Bahamas working in communications for the abdicated king, Edward and his wife, Wallis.
Mr Taylor met Woffindin in the mid 1960s.
"He was a lovely person," he said.
"He was small in stature, loved music and was very keen on encouraging others in music. He also wrote little plays.
"...If ever you asked him what he did, he'd touch his nose and say 'it was the King's business."
Woffindin also kept a detailed, mainly pre-war diary, which the Taylors possess.
He emigrated to Australia in 1976 to be closer to Penny. His two other children remained in the US.
Woffindin died in Sydney on May 15, 1995.
Mr Taylor was reunited with the medals at Goulburn Police Station on Wednesday, July 8, where he also thanked Constable James and Mr Johnson for their efforts.
"I think this is just wonderful. People sometimes think they'll never get these things back but this goes to show that's not always true," he said.
Mr Taylor intended to seek replicas of other war medals Mr Johnson believed he was awarded during World War Two but were not in the family's possession.
Police said investigations into the theft were continuing.
Mr Johnson said the other set of medals were awarded to Private Ruby Lorna Nicholson who served in the Australian Women's Army Service, and worked in the canteen service for two years during World War Two. She was born in Port Kembla in 1945 and enlisted at Paddington on August 17, 1943, war records showed. Private Nicholson was discharged in June, 1946.
The recovered items were the War Medal and the Australian Service Medal.
Ruby's Sydney-based family was similarly thrilled by their return, though they didn't know they'd been stolen. They were unable to travel to Goulburn for the presentation.
A Hume Police District spokesperson said the medals' return to the respective families was "a wonderful example of what could be achieved when policing and the Defence community worked together to preserve and honour our shared history."
Constable James was simply pleased he could help.
"I would be awesome if the medals could talk; they'd have a few stories to tell. They mean a lot to people and are passed down through generations," he said.
