31 JULY 2003

RNZRSA appalled by desecration of war graves in France

The Royal New Zealand Returned Services' Association was appalled to learn of the desecration of Commonwealth war graves at the St Aubert British Cemetery in northern France.

Over the weekend of 26-27 July, 45 headstones were knocked over in St Aubert British Cemetery (total burials 435), near Cambrai.

The 8 New Zealand war graves in the cemetery were untouched, according to Margaret Marks, senior adviser on war graves at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission's office in France believe that 43 of the headstones at St Aubert can be repaired and re-erected immediately and plans to repair, or replace, the remaining two as soon as possible.

Almost 575,000 servicemen and women of the Commonwealth, who fought for the freedom of France, lie buried in that country or are commemorated on memorials.

This latest incident follows an act of vandalism in March this year when the central memorial of Etaples Military Cemetery (11,554 burials), near Calais, was daubed with anti-American and British graffiti.

For whatever reason, the vandalism of headstones and memorials can only be described as one of the most despicable and cowardly forms of protest. RNZRSA is sure that all decent minded people would wish that those responsible for this desecration are held accountable for their actions and it is hoped that the French Government will make every effort to apprehend them.

Related link

Commonwealth War Graves Commission
www.cwgc.org/news.htm