Veterans have been ‘left in tears’ after a war memorial was vandalised by disrespectful thugs.
Villagers in Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire were ‘distraught’ after discovering that a display of wooden statues, to commemorate those who have lost their lives in combat, had been targeted.
Poppies at the display had been kicked over and damage was also caused to a framed photograph of a local veteran, prompting police to launch an investigation.
The damage was noticed yesterday morning, ahead of a monthly breakfast club at the nearby village hall, which a number of veteran’s regularly attend.
They discovered the vandalism on their way to the club.
It comes as the Royal British Legion launches its annual poppy appeal today ahead of Remembrance Day, in less than three weeks time.
Glenys and Arthur Pinnock built the memorial six years ago and have maintained it ever since with their own money.
Mrs Pinnock said some veterans at the breakfast club were left ‘in tears’ by the senseless damage caused.
A village memorial was vandalised in Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire on Wednesday morning
However, in defiance, the club members rallied with other local residents to clean up the mess left by the vandals.
‘We aren’t going to let them win – it’s mindless vandalism and whoever did this wouldn’t be living in a free country without those soldiers,’ Mrs Pinnock said.
‘I’m beyond upset and I haven’t even got the words to tell you how I feel. We’re both in our 70s and my husband has spent hours out there painting the statues.
‘When we lost our children, this gave us a purpose to carry on and we now do a lot for the veterans’ community.
‘But they won’t win and, if they knock them down again, we’ll go out there and put them back’.
Mrs Pinnock says the memorial, which is surrounded by poppies and knitted figurines, has never been targeted by vandals before.
Claire Stoneman, who works at the nearby Burton Court Community Centre, has set up a fundraising page to help raise some money to rebuild the statues.
Less than 24 hours later, an outpouring of support had led to more than £1,000 being raised.
Ms Stoneman said: ‘I just thought ‘oh my God’ and I couldn’t believe it – you think people would have respect for our veterans.’
Nottinghamshire Police have urged anyone with information to come forward.
Glenys and Arthur Pinnock built the memorial six years ago and have since maintained it
A spokesperson for the force said: ‘We are currently investigating reports relating to a memorial being vandalised, in Eakring Road, Bilsthorpe.’
‘The criminal damage was reported to the police around 7.50am today (Wednesday) and is believed to have been caused in the early hours of the morning.
‘We completely appreciate the upset this incident has caused to the local community and are determined to track down whoever was responsible.
‘On that note, we’d ask anyone with any information to call the police on 101, quoting incident 88 of 22 October, or report it anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.’
The Royal British Legion, launched today, hopes to raise more than £50 million.
Lucy Inskip, the RBL’s Poppy Appeal director, spoke of the continued importance of the appeal. She said: ‘Every day, ex-service personnel and their families come to the Royal British Legion for support when they become overwhelmed with issues including addiction, debt, homelessness, PTSD and relationship breakdowns.
‘When something goes wrong, the RBL is there to help rebuild lives and provide members of the armed forces community with the support they need to create a better future.’
The lasting impact of a training accident, the loss of a friend, or battlefield trauma are among a range of potentially devastating issues faced by some veterans.
Ms Inskip described the annual appeal, founded in 1921, as something which ‘brings the nation together and helps us raise vital funds needed to support the armed forces community’.
Donations help the RBL – the UK’s largest armed forces charity – to respond in ways that are tailored to the armed forces community’s specific needs and circumstances.