HE joined up to serve his country aged just 15.

But now, at the age of 88, a Huddersfield man has fallen victim to a cunning burglar.

And the property stolen from the man’s Birkby home include treasured photographs from his Royal Navy exploits in the Second World War.

They include amazing pictures of the sinking of the German ship Bismarck, as the man was serving on board the British battleship King George V which took on the enemy in May 1927 in the north Atlantic.

“They are impossible to replace and he is devastated that they have gone,” said the man’s daughter.

“He blames himself for leaving his door unlocked when he popped round to his neighbour’s home but we have told him not to be silly. He was literally out for a minute or two.

“We just hope someone can help us find the photos.”

Huddersfield CID are appealing for witnesses after the home of the pensioner was burgled.

The burglary took place on Tuesday at about 10pm when the victim left his home on Scholes Road to briefly see his neighbour.

He left his front door slightly ajar at the time, and a thief went into the house and stole two wallets from the windowsill of the living room.

One of the wallets contained around £40 in cash, as well as 12 war photographs that were of great sentimental value.

His daughter said: “He joined the Royal Navy at 15 and only months later, was torpedoed while in action.

“He survived that and went to serve on the King George V, which was involved in the battle to sink the Bismarck.

“He also served on ships in the Russian convoys, surviving three dreadful winters.

“The photos are so precious to him and obviously have great sentimental value to everyone in the family. They cannot be replaced.

“I would ask anyone in the Birkby area to search gardens and paths to see if they can find the wallet or the photos if they have been thrown away.”

The victim and his neighbour spotted the suspect leaving the scene and described him as being a white man in his late teens or early twenties with a pasty complexion and blue eyes. He was slim, about 5ft 7ins tall, with brown hair and was wearing a black jacket.

Any witnesses to the crime, anyone with information or who comes across discarded wallets containing old photographs, is asked to contact Pc Sarah Purcell at Huddersfield CID on 01484 436685.