The family of a war hero who tunnelled through a collapsing church to save a dying priest has made an emotional plea for the return of his stolen medals.

Edward Heming of the Bermondsey light rescue service was told by his commander to abandon his mission at Dockhead Roman Catholic church in London's East End, which had been decimated by a V-2 rocket strike in March 1945.

But the fearless civilian had already heard the priest’s cries and could not turn back.

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Now his 82-year-old son Raymond, whose Biddenden home was burgled on February 10, is asking for people’s help in the search for the medals earned by his father who died in 1987.

“I have been buoyed up by the support I’ve had from strangers since the medals were taken and I just want people to look out for them,” he said.

Despite being left deeply traumatised by the break-in and wary of stepping back inside his own home, the pensioner says he cannot give up on his search.

“The medals are like a piece of my life that is missing,” he said.

“I cannot rest until I know that they are back where they belong.

“They are more valuable to me than anything else I have and they are a part of our country’s history.”

The George Cross is awarded “for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger".

The rare medal was contained in a pristine box that included his father’s civil defence insignia, defence medal, coronation medal, jubilee medal and replicas of the collection.

Jewellery taken in the haul has now been recovered but the medals remain missing.

A crucifix was inside the box, which was given to Edward by Edmund Arbuthnott, the priest he saved and it is also missing.

Father Arbuthnott had been trapped in a “V-shaped void completely encased in debris and furniture” between the nave and crypt of the vast church, the George Cross award nomination detailed. He was pinned down at the waist by a main timber beam.

Edward led the rescue that saw him working upside down to reach the trapped priest scratching his way through a small tunnel.

He had to pull the cleric out without disturbing the furniture overhead, which was preventing boulders from cascading down on them.

Father Arbuthnott was on the verge of death and both men were rushed to hospital after the rescue.

Edward had collapsed suffering from exhaustion and the effects of escaping gas.

The priest recovered and later went on to become head of the Southwark Catholic Rescue Society which helped thousands of vulnerable children and he also led the Young Christian Workers’ movement in Bermondsey, living to the age of 89.

Raymond said: “My father served his country without a thought for his own safety and I’m hoping people can help his family now.”

Two men have been sentenced for receiving stolen goods in connection with the burglary. They appeared via virtual link before Medway Magistrates' Court on February 15.

Peter Line, 42, of Westbrook Road, Margate, was jailed for 18 weeks and Bradley Thompson, 43 , of Bradley Road, Ramsgate, received a 90-day jail sentence and was fined £115 with £100 costs.

People are asked to call police on 01843 222289, quoting ZY/7148/18, if they have any information about the location of the missing medals stolen in the burglary that occurred in Biddenden between 12.20pm and 2.15pm on Saturday, February 10 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.