“We are in contact with the police and the Australian High Commission and New Zealand High Commission and will assist in any way we can”.
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War graves dedicated to Australians and New Zealanders who died in the World War One One have been defaced with spray paint in a London cemetery.
The churchyard at St Mary’s in Harefield contains graves from both world wars but those affected are among the 120 First World War graves.
It still uncertain whether there is any connection between the grave stone vandalism and the attacks on the same cemetery on ANZAC day earlier this year.
Councillor Jane Palmer, who represents Harefield Ward on the local Hillingdon Council, tweeted an image of the graves, saying it had brought tears to her eyes to see.
“We work very closely with the local police, and we’ve been in communication ever since it happened. People were coming down to look at it whilst I was there and were obviously, visibly moved by it”.
Inspector Rob Bryan from Hillingdon told getwestlondon the attack was a “despicable crime” and the police were “actively hunting” those responsible.
Each grave is marked by scroll shaped headstones, chosen by the staff and patients at the hospital.
Ms Palmer said she had had offers to help clean the headstones, and though she had been “touched by your kindness” the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was taking up the task.
Police said they were investigating the incident.
“What you did was wrong – do the right thing and hand yourself in”.
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They sawed down an Australian flagpole and sprayed blue paint over a memorial plaque.
