KEY POINTS:
World War II veteran Fred Harper, 100, wept after receiving replicas of his war medals stolen in a burglary.
Harper was asleep in his Perth home, when someone broke in early on September 14 and stole an old cast iron safe containing his most precious possessions. Included were his five medals and three World War I medals awarded to his father, one of the first Australians to land at Gallipoli.
Harper, who served in Egypt and Palestine, did not notice his medals were gone until the next day.
At a presentation at Redcliffe, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson gave Harper replicas of his medals, hugging the veteran who wept with emotion.
