Lady Rosemary Griffin had just opened her front door when she was violently pushed to the floor.
She then had two rings ripped from her fingers by a robber, as reported in The News yesterday.
The 88-year-old's left leg was broken in two places in the fall and doctors at St Richards Hospital, Chichester, have had to insert two metal pins into her leg, but say she is recovering well.
Michael Stratton-Brown, chairman of the HMS Barham Association, of which Lady Griffin is a keen supporter after her brother was killed on the ship when it went down in November 1941, said the attack was 'absolutely disgusting'.
'That somebody should do this to an elderly lady is simply horrific,' she said.
'She is a very nice lady, a wonderful character and she used to come to our dinners and get on very well with everybody.
'She is very well known.'
Lady Griffin is a popular member of the community in the picturesque village of Bosham, West Sussex.
A flower arranger at Holy Trinity Church, Bosham, she is the widow of Admiral Sir Anthony Griffin, Controller of the Navy and Third Sea Lord, who died in 1996.
She had returned to her home at The Drive after a day out when the attack took place at 5.30pm last Friday.
Police managed to arrest two men nearby just minutes after the robbery.
Friend Sheila Bailey, 80, of Delling Close, Bosham, said: 'She is an absolutely lovely lady, always working hard in the village.
'We were both in the horticultural society and she came to my flower club and we both do the flowers for the Holy Trinity Church.
'She is so kind and nothing is too much trouble for her.
'It is appalling that she has been targeted by such disgusting people.'
Two men who have been charged in connection with the robbery are both 33 years old and come from Bognor Regis.
One was remanded in custody while the other was granted conditional bail after appearing at Chichester Magistrates' Court.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Chichester Police Station on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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