Residents lay new wreaths to pay tribute after war memorial set on fire in ‘mindless criminal act’

By Grainne Cuffe, local democracy reporter

New wreaths have been laid on a war memorial set on fire in a “mindless criminal act”, as locals paid tribute to those who made the “ultimate sacrifice”.

A wreath on the Bermondsey and Rotherhithe War Memorial was set alight in the early hours of Tuesday morning (August 24).

The Grade II listed monument was first unveiled in 1921 and commemorates the sacrifices made by local people in both World Wars.

Locals were furious about the attack, telling how they felt “sick” after finding out.

Southwark Council were quick to clean the memorial and on August 25 about 12 people, including those from the Royal British Legion, gathered to lay new poppy wreaths.

UK Homes 4 Heroes, a charity for homesless ex-service members, wrote on one: “You can set light and try and destroy our memorial, but you will never destroy our memories.”

Local MP Neil Coyle left a message on another wreath: “On behalf of everyone in Bermondsey and Old Southwark, we will remember them.”

Melissa Tran, who works at the beauty salon just beside the memorial, said when she saw the damage, she felt like it had been done to her grandfather’s grave.

She the gathering on Wednesday was “emotional”.

A spokesperson from the Royal British Legion said it was “very disappointed” to hear of the damage to the memorial.

She said: “War memorials and graves honour the memory of every member of the armed forces who has made the ultimate sacrifice and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.”

Southwark Council was quick to clean the memorial and condemned the vandalism as a “mindless criminal act that we will not tolerate”.

Cllr Darren Merrill, cabinet member for a safer, cleaner borough said: “We have reported this to the police and offered out help in the investigation.

“I wish to thank our staff who acted so promptly to clean the memorial and the public for their help.”

The Met Police issued an appeal on August 26 to help find whoever is responsible.

A spokesperson said: “Police in Southwark are investigating an incident of criminal damage to a local war memorial.

“The damage appears to have been caused by a wreath being set on fire at the war memorial at West Lane, in the early hours of Tuesday, August 24.

“Officers from South Bermondsey safer neighbourhood team and borough partners have been made aware and an investigation has been launched by detectives from Central South Command.

“There have been no arrests. Enquiries are underway to identify any potential suspects.

“Anyone with information or footage of this incident can contact Detective Constable Chloe O’Doherty, from Walworth CID, on p250408@met.police.uk.”