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Damaged Sheppey war memorials to be replaced after Royal British Legion Industries help

By: Joe Harbert jharbert@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 13:51, 25 April 2023

Updated: 15:44, 25 April 2023

Two war memorials damaged at Easter are to be replaced with help from the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI).

Silhouette statues 'Unknown Tommy' and 'Unknown Woman in War' were located next to the Minster Gatehouse Museum in Sheppey.

The vandalised war memorials next to the Minster Gatehouse Museum. Picture: Paul Alexander Thurston

They were damaged by vandals last Monday after being bent-in-half.

However, the RBLI has acted quickly and will now send Minster-on-Sea Parish Council two replacement statues at a discounted price of £125.

The new models will be paid for by Havill Funeral Services - a 16-year-old company based in Queenborough Road, Halfway.

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When explaining whether the new memorials will be at the same location as the ones previously, a parish council spokesman said: "We are pleased to report that the Royal British Legion has reached out and offered us a solution.

"On behalf of everyone here at Minster-on-Sea Parish Council and the community we serve, we are truly grateful.

"Thanks to them, we will soon be receiving two replacement statues at a heavily discounted price which brings the total cost to £125 to replace the two statues.

"They are also including all the fittings necessary so we can attach the new statues to the original stakes.

"Whether this will be on the same site is debatable, but please rest assured those statues will be erected in the Parish of Minster-on-Sea."

Havill Funeral Services have paid for the two new statues

Meanwhile Havill Funeral Service added: "It's very sad that these memorials were vandalised.

"It's important that we never forget those who gave their lives to give us the freedom we have today."

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Vandals of the original silhouettes are yet to be identified, with the council still following up one line of enquiry regarding two people sitting and drinking on the Gatehouse Museum bench on the evening of April 7.

Those with any information are being asked to contact the parish clerk, Trish Hamilton, on 01795 873831.

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