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Australia war graves vandalism 'deplorable' | Australia war graves vandalism 'deplorable' |
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The vandalism of Australian war graves at a cemetery in west London has been condemned as "deplorable". | The vandalism of Australian war graves at a cemetery in west London has been condemned as "deplorable". |
The final resting places of soldiers who died in World War One were found daubed with paint at Harefield churchyard in Hillingdon on Sunday. | The final resting places of soldiers who died in World War One were found daubed with paint at Harefield churchyard in Hillingdon on Sunday. |
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) described it as a deliberate act of vandalism. | The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) described it as a deliberate act of vandalism. |
A clean-up team has begun work to restore the graves to their original condition. | A clean-up team has begun work to restore the graves to their original condition. |
More on this story and other news from London | |
CWGC assistant director general Mike Bullen said: "We are extremely disappointed by this deliberate act of vandalism and deplore the actions of those responsible. | CWGC assistant director general Mike Bullen said: "We are extremely disappointed by this deliberate act of vandalism and deplore the actions of those responsible. |
"We have a team at the cemetery now taking action to clean the headstones. | |
"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." | "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." |
'Unbearable desecration' | |
Hillingdon councillor Jane Palmer said the discovery left her in tears and Harefield village was "united in disgust". | |
"I believe very much in the village and I believe in the kindness of people in the village and seeing that was unbearable," she said. | |
She said it was the second incident at the cemetery in six months and described it as "another desecration". | |
The Uxbridge Gazette reported that on the eve of the Gallipoli centenary a memorial in the cemetery was sprayed with paint and the Australian flagpole damaged. | The Uxbridge Gazette reported that on the eve of the Gallipoli centenary a memorial in the cemetery was sprayed with paint and the Australian flagpole damaged. |
"Those Anzac [Australian and New Zealand Army Corps] graves are part of our village, part of our history - children learn about it in school," Ms Palmer said. | |
She said it had moved people around the world on social media and had gone as far as New Zealand and Australia. | |
Harefield churchyard contains 120 World War One graves, mostly soldiers who died in the Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield Park. | Harefield churchyard contains 120 World War One graves, mostly soldiers who died in the Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield Park. |