Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Caroline Mortimer

Vandals spray Anzac war graves with blue paint in west London

Vandals have desecrated war graves at a west London cemetery for the second time in a year. 

The graves belonging to Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) soldiers were spray-painted overnight on Saturday at the St Mary’s churchyard in Harefield, Hillingdon. 

Local councillor, Jane Palmer, who discovered the vandalism tweeted that she had been "moved to tears" when she saw the headstones.

The graveyard, which contains 120 First World War graves from soldiers who died at the Australian Auxiliary Hospital nearby, was also attacked shortly before Anzac day in April.  

Cllr Palmer told the Evening Standard: "I was moved to tears, I came from my own spiritual meeting, my Quaker meeting, because I'd seen this on social media.

"It happened before six months ago, around the centenary of Anzac commemorations.

"I have no idea why anybody would want to do anything like that to any grave.

"We work very closely with the local police, and we've been in communication ever since it happened."

Inspector Rob Bryan from Hillingdon told getwestlondon the attack was a "despicable crime" and the police were "actively hunting" those responsible. 

He appealed for anyone with information to contact police on 101.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.