sajackr Posted 27 July , 2018 Share Posted 27 July , 2018 What is the world coming to? Reported in the local press. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-44964790 Sajackr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mebu Posted 27 July , 2018 Share Posted 27 July , 2018 On a similar vein, a CWGC gardener told me a little while ago that someone had been stealing the rose plants from the cemetery. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted 27 July , 2018 Share Posted 27 July , 2018 I would say, unbelievable, but in today's world..... probably not. rest in Peace Harry, it will be replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted 27 July , 2018 Share Posted 27 July , 2018 I agree it's sickening, of course, but theft has been a fact of life since the dawn of time, and will remain so. It's not a phenomenon of "today's world." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
depaor01 Posted 27 July , 2018 Share Posted 27 July , 2018 Indeed. All the more puzzling as it's stone so has no resale (who'd buy it??) or scrap value. Unbelievable. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaz Posted 27 July , 2018 Share Posted 27 July , 2018 don't know if you would call me cynical... but, in the area do headstones in civilian cemeteries cost a lot? maybe should check next time in Doullens as there is a shop opposite the cemetery. reason for mentioning is , my old business landlord died and they did not put a headstone on his grave (family fueds). the one placed a year later now looks (4 years later) as old as the 1950's ones do. I swear it has signs of writing on the back. as his son was a builder/stone mason, I wouldn't have put it past him to get a 'used' one or made himself a concrete one!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardenerbill Posted 27 July , 2018 Share Posted 27 July , 2018 It is possible that the person who stole it thinks it had a value, there are plenty of stupid people out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandy hall Posted 27 July , 2018 Share Posted 27 July , 2018 This has been all over Twitter for the last few days. A go fund me page was set up, for funds to replace it and has already surpassed it’s target. Message copied and pasted from the page. Dear backers! Thank you for your incredible support in replacing Harry's memorial stone. It's humbling to see he's remembered by so many. We're grateful you allow us to continue spreading his message this way. Our target has been reached so we are shortly going to place an order with the local stone mason in Langemark. The council of Langemark-Poelkapelle will put the stone in place and maintain the site. We will keep you updated of course on the progress. Once the money is our account, we will close the fund. Much appreciated on behalf of Harry's friends in Belgium and the UK. - Simon Louagie, Peace Village Hostel, organiser. Mandy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIFFO Posted 29 July , 2018 Share Posted 29 July , 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Bradbury Posted 29 July , 2018 Share Posted 29 July , 2018 It might not have been stolen for financial gain. Some people are so determined to have unique items in their collection they will get an item even when they know its stolen; just look at those who buy stolen art works by famous artists knowing they can never let someone else know they’ve got it. There will never be another memorial unveiled by Harry Patch so someone could have a unique item in their collection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eairicbloodaxe Posted 29 July , 2018 Share Posted 29 July , 2018 34 minutes ago, Lee Bradbury said: It might not have been stolen for financial gain. Some people are so determined to have unique items in their collection they will get an item even when they know its stolen; just look at those who buy stolen art works by famous artists knowing they can never let someone else know they’ve got it. There will never be another memorial unveiled by Harry Patch so someone could have a unique item in their collection. Well they'd better not steal it again, now that I helped (a little) to pay for it! I do hope they track down the culprit. Great response to the crowdfunding appeal, reached the target in little over 48 hours. Sad that it had to be done. Regards Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted 29 July , 2018 Share Posted 29 July , 2018 1 minute ago, eairicbloodaxe said: I do hope they track down the culprit. And if so that he/she/they will be punished. Somehow I doubt it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Banning Posted 30 October , 2018 Share Posted 30 October , 2018 Good news. The replacement memorial has been put in place and unveiled today: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-46022281 JB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sajackr Posted 30 October , 2018 Author Share Posted 30 October , 2018 JB Thanks for the update, good news Sajackr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CorporalPunishment Posted 1 November , 2018 Share Posted 1 November , 2018 Sorry if I'm being pedantic but I think the new stone could have been done better. The spacing of the middle two lines rather spoils the appearance in my opinion. It's great to see the replacement stone in place all the same. I just hope the turd who nicked the original gets his comeuppance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyne Posted 1 November , 2018 Share Posted 1 November , 2018 That's good news!!! one reason more to walk back there one day! and as to the culprit ... Moet ik dy op zyn bek raamje ???? - that's Fries ... but I think it's what we all think... M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlyme Posted 1 November , 2018 Share Posted 1 November , 2018 I know memorials get replaced due to natural weathering, accidental damage or historical damage eg the armistice train at Compiègne all manor of explainable reasons are there for replacing a memorial. The sad thing is, no matter how well intentioned the replacement with this is, this memorial will never have been laid by Harry. It was never given by Harry, nor did he lay it.. the original is in some toe rags possession. It will always be seen as a replacement due to some scumbag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 1 November , 2018 Share Posted 1 November , 2018 (edited) You can get upset as much as you like but it does not solve anything. What is the thief going to do with it? He, she or it is not going to be able flog it. Memorials can be replaced but memories last for ever. TR Edited 1 November , 2018 by Terry_Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hone Posted 20 January , 2020 Share Posted 20 January , 2020 (edited) According to a Talbot House tweet, the original memorial has been found and is henceforth going to be displayed in the garden at Toc H. There were no details about the circumstances of its recovery. Edited 21 January , 2020 by Mark Hone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marilyne Posted 20 January , 2020 Share Posted 20 January , 2020 Interesting... I hope the thief has been made aware of the consequences of his actions.. or else got a good whack around his ears... M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 20 January , 2020 Share Posted 20 January , 2020 On 01/11/2018 at 15:50, CorporalPunishment said: Sorry if I'm being pedantic but I think the new stone could have been done better. The spacing of the middle two lines rather spoils the appearance in my opinion. It's great to see the replacement stone in place all the same. I just hope the turd who nicked the original gets his comeuppance. Only the 11th turd in the recorded history of the GWF. I suppose this is the twelfth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alisonmallen62 Posted 20 January , 2020 Share Posted 20 January , 2020 On 01/11/2018 at 15:50, CorporalPunishment said: Sorry if I'm being pedantic but I think the new stone could have been done better. The spacing of the middle two lines rather spoils the appearance in my opinion. It's great to see the replacement stone in place all the same. I just hope the turd who nicked the original gets his comeuppance. It is not as nicely done as the original that is true and Harry didn’t lay the stone but at least there is something there. Perhaps if the original has been found it might be returned to its rightful place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 21 January , 2020 Share Posted 21 January , 2020 I quite agree that if the original can be put back in situ then it should be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ianjonesncl Posted 21 January , 2020 Share Posted 21 January , 2020 From Forces Net https://www.forces.net/news/memorial-stone-last-tommy-found-after-two-years-missing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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