'Utter disrespect' of yobs who flattened Dudley VE Day peace monument - and the Good Samaritan who repaired the damage

A councillor said he is taking the positives out of a vandal attack which flattened silhouettes of soldiers at a peace monument in Dudley town centre, after a well-meaning member of the public restored them.

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Less than two weeks after the 80 silhouettes of soldiers, airmen and sailors was erected in Coronation Gardens, Ednam Road in Dudley, they were flattened in what appears to have been a random act on Friday night (April 25) or early Saturday morning.

But by Sunday evening (April 27) the figures were restored thanks to an individual and his wife. Castle and Priory ward councillor Keiran Casey said it showed there were "positives in a bad situation".

The 80 statues at the Dudley peace gareden depicting fallen soldiers of all who fought in Britain's conflict over the years were damaged at the weekend — The 80 statues at the Dudley peace garden depicting fallen soldiers of all who fought in conflicts over the years were damaged at the weekend

The peace monument was erected by Dudley community leader and British Empire Medal awardee, Rose Cook-Monk, to commemorate the upcoming 80th anniversary of VE Day, and the efforts of all of the Commonwealth's soldiers who fought in Britain's conflicts.

Councillor Casey has previously set up monuments to soldiers in Woodsetton and Upper Gornal and called for people to respect areas which have been set aside specifically as memorials and where people can go to find peace.

By Sunday night the models were restored by a member of the public and his wife

He is hoping to study CCTV in the area and speak to a police sergeant to identify who was responsible for the damage.

He said: "Thankfully the spikes which were used to put the statues in the ground were not damaged, though I'm not sure whether that was deliberate because whoever did this probably didn't have a plan - it seems it was a random act.

Councillor Kieran Casey (right) was one of the people at the unveiling of the peace gardens at Coronation Gardens earlier this month.

"But whatever the circumstances. it is completely unacceptable and shows the utmost disrespect for all the hard work put in by so many, as well as to the memory of all our fallen heroes. To see this done within a few weeks of the unveiling is sad, although perhaps a little inevitable in some ways - but I try not to be cynical about these things."

The silhouettes that were vandalised represented military personnel, including Army, Royal Air Force and Navy, and included all faiths and ethnicities, including women who also served.

Councillor Casey added: "Thankfully a guy called David and his wife spent part of his Sunday putting them all back up and restoring them, with none of the 80 statues damaged beyond repair.

"It shows for every idiot there is an upstanding citizen who is prepared to condemn their actions and in this case try and do something about it, and I applaud them for it."

Councillor Damian Corfield, cabinet member responsible for Armed Forces, said: “The vandalism was shocking act for everyone in the local community, and I would encourage anyone who witnesses any criminal activity in the future to report it to the police.

“On behalf of everyone here at Dudley Council, I wish to thank the couple who spent their Sunday evening repairing the statues, which have been put up in the gardens mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.”