By Marjory Inglis

A 93-YEAR-OLD Dundee man tried to fight back with his walking stick when a thief robbed him of a wallet stuffed with cash.

Hard of hearing and with poor balance, a legacy of being blown up during wartime service in North Africa, Alexander Ramsay was determined to be no pushover when the stranger who entered his home on Friday grabbed his wallet from his back pocket.

“I started hitting him with my stick, gave him a clout over the back,” said Mr Ramsay.

“I ripped his coat because I was hanging onto it as he was tugging to get away.

“I have hardly any balance. I was wounded in my right foot and left knee.”

Mr Ramsay was one of only two survivors when a landmine blew up a truckload of soldiers. Having survived the Battle of El Alamein, he was blown up at Homs on November 14, 1943. He was moved to a military hospital at Pietermaritzburg in South Africa for treatment and rehabilitation but still lives with the consequences of his wounds today.

Mr Ramsay had been to collect his pension and withdrawn extra cash just the day before the cowardly attack in his own home. He planned to buy a birthday present and assist with the expense of a family holiday.

Last night the veteran relived his ordeal from his bed in the city’s Ninewells Hospital.

The ex-soldier revealed it was the second time in six months that a thief had conned their way into his home.

The most recent attack at noon on Friday is believed to have brought on the symptoms of a pre-existing medical condition, known to be exacerbated by trauma.

Mr Ramsay has lived in his home in the west end of Dundee for almost 50 years. It was there he gave devoted care to his wife Meg who suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease for 10 years before she died in 1996, just two years short of the couple’s diamond wedding anniversary.

His wallet contained over £200 when it was grabbed on Friday. He had been to the cash machine the previous day, taking out more than usual with the intention of buying a birthday present for his grandson’s girl friend and giving other family members money towards a foreign holiday.

“He is a very generous man,” said Mr Ramsay’s daughter-in-law Agnes.

“A neighbour takes him to the supermarket every Thursday and he accompanies him to the cash machine to draw out money for his shopping. He took out more than usual this week.”

She and husband Eric, Mr Ramsay’s only child, want the cowardly attacker caught and stopped from preying on vulnerable old people.

“I don’t want this to happen to anybody else,” said Agnes.

Her primary concern is for the welfare of her much loved father-in-law who seems, at least while surrounded by well wishers in his hospital ward, to be coping well in the aftermath of the attack.

Though Mr Ramsay was not physically hurt when the thief shoved him out of the way, Agnes is concerned there might be after- effects.

“I don’t want this to be a life-changing thing for him,” she said.

“We want him to get over it as quickly as possible. He wants to be able to go back and stay in his own house.”

Mr Ramsay said that at home he is surrounded by good neighbours who do “look out” for him.

The man responsible for the robbery is described as being in his late 20s to early 30s, of medium build with fair collar-length hair.

He had a two-inch vertical scar on his right cheek and was wearing a black jacket, jeans and white trainers.

Detectives were last night continuing their inquiries and say that if anyone can identify the man responsible, or may have any information relating to the robbery, they should contact the police on Dundee 223200.