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| Australia war graves vandalism 'deplorable' | Australia war graves vandalism 'deplorable' |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| 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 is restoring the graves to their original condition. Police have not made any arrests. | |
| More on this story and other news from London | 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 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." |
| Insp Rob Bryan, from the Met Police, said officers were examining CCTV and looking for forensic opportunities. | |
| He said: "It was only two weeks ago that we fell silent to remember those who died for their country, so for anyone to commit this mindless act of vandalism is despicable." | |
| He said police believed the person who damaged the headstones was local and may have bragged about it. | |
| And in an appeal to the community for information, he said the person may have come home with paint on their hands and clothes. | |
| 'Unbearable desecration' | 'Unbearable desecration' |
| Hillingdon councillor Jane Palmer said the discovery left her in tears and Harefield village was "united in disgust". | 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. | "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". | 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. | "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. | 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. |
| A Royal British Legion spokesman said the legion was shocked and saddened. | |
| He said: "War memorials and graves honour the memory of the Armed Forces personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who defend the freedom we enjoy. | |
| "They deserve to be treated with the utmost respect." |