Liverpool war memorial in Bigge Park vandalised four days before Remembrance Day

A war memorial has been vandalised after multiple brass plaques commemorating those who served or were killed in action during both World Wars were stolen just days before Remembrance Day.

The Bigge Park war memorial located in Liverpool's CBD was vandalised days before Remembrance Day.

A war memorial has been vandalised after multiple brass plaques commemorating those who served or were killed in action during both World Wars were stolen in the days before Remembrance Day.

Liverpool RSL sub-branch secretary treasurer Catherine Cranny said she was “heartbroken” to discover six plaques dedicated to the Korean War, air force, navy, army and merchant navy personnel were removed and graffitied with black spray paint by mystery vandals.

“We were very distressed as Remembrance Day is very important to us and it was heartbreaking to think somebody would do something like that,” Ms Cranny said.

The catafalque party – a group of four people who stand around coffins and memorials as a sign of respect – alerted the RSL last Wednesday after they discovered the plaques were missing while practising in the park for the Remembrance Day service.

“It was definitely someone looking to make some money and I just hope they didn’t have family who fought in the wars as this means nothing to them while it means everything to us,” she said.

Six plaques at the Bigge Park war memorial have been vandalised in the Liverpool CBD.

“It’s devastating because it’s important to all who have served and it’s important to the families so I can’t understand why they would do it.”

Ahead of the service, Liverpool Council cleaned the memorials and placed covers over the plaques while the RSL made handmade wreaths to distract from the temporary fix.

Multiple war memorials have been vandalised in the Liverpool CBD.

The vandalism has been described as “devastating” by the Liverpool RSL sub-branch.

“It takes months to organise these services and to find out that the main focus of the event had been ruined was devastating,” Ms Cranny said.

Liverpool state MP Charishma Kaliyanda said she was “disappointed” to hear of the vandalism and called for the council to install more CCTV surveillance in the area.

“Given how highly used Bigge Park is, it’s behind time council invested in greater security and protection for our community by installing CCTV,” she said.

Ms Cranny said it would be ideal to have cameras facing the memorial.

“Cameras would be terrific because Remembrance Day is an important event to us and the community and this needs to be avoided for the future,” she said.

A Liverpool Council spokesman said they were “disappointed at the vandalism and graffiti” and immediately reported the incident to police.

“There is CCTV in Bigge Park and council are looking to enhance coverage of the memorial area,” the spokesman said. “Council is also planning to replace the plaques and remove the graffiti.”

The cost of the damage is estimated to be thousands of dollars.