The graves of fallen British war heroes were deliberately smashed in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

The damage was intentional as none of the civilian headstones in the cemetery in Shipley, West Yorkshire, were touched.

West Yorkshire police are investigating the vandalism.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has said it is 'deeply saddened' by the damage and has vowed to restore the graves to a state that 'befits their sacrifice and continue to care for them now and always'



One of the graves belonged to World War One hero Arthur Sheard, who died aged 30 on May 22, 1918, at Morton Banks Military Hospital in Keighley.

He had been injured in the field and was buried with his four-year-old daughter, who died just two days after him.


Nurse Julie Watson found that her uncle Peter Bilborough's war graves had been smashed on D-Day along with a number of others in Hirst Wood burial ground, Bradford.

Those damaged include a headstone commemorating 21-year-old air gunner Sgt Peter William Bilsborough, who drowned when his plane caught fire and fell into the sea while returning from a 1941 Second World War mission.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is responsible for looking after the graves, said they were 'deeply upset' by the damage.

'We are deeply upset that someone has shown such a complete lack of respect this close to the 75th anniversary of D-Day, a day when so many tens of thousands assembled around the world to reflect and pay deserved respect to the war dead.



The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has said it is 'deeply saddened' by the damage and has vowed to restore the graves to a state that 'befits their sacrifice and continue to care for them now and always'



Workers were seen removing and replacing the damaged war graves later today after the Commonwealth War Graves Commission sent staff to the area.

They started the job of replacing the headstones that are believed to have been smashed on the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

Many dead are not resting in peace anymore due to human inhumanness and Buhari's political appointment. May God forgive humanity.

oz4real83:
Many dead are not resting in peace anymore due to human inhumanness and Buhari's political appointment. May God forgive humanity.

Wettin concern Buhari for this matter.

bikerboy1:


Wettin concern Buhari for this matter.

Do u know how many dead people that were in buhari's board member lists in his first tenure? Idiot.s like u are one of the reasons nairaland is gradually become kids' play ground. U are ignorant but still chose to publicly display your ignorance instead of keeping quiet.

oz4real83:
Do u know how many dead people that were in buhari's board member lists in his first tenure? Idiot.s like u are one of the reasons nairaland is gradually become kids' play ground. U are ignorant but still chose to publicly display your ignorance instead of keeping quiet.

If you're going to be honest to yourself, wetin bring Buhari matter inside American D-day?

czarina:
If you're going to be honest to yourself, wetin bring Buhari matter enter American D-day?

we are talking about someone vandalising/ disturbing the resting place of the dead in this post. Appointing a dead person as a board member of a parastatal/agency,whether knowingly or unknowingly is similar to it. Both involved infringment on the private space of the dead.

oz4real83:
we are talking about someone vandalising/ disturbing the resting place of the dead in this post. Appointing a dead person as a board member of a parastatal/agency,whether knowingly or unknowingly is similar to it. Both involved infringment on the private space of the dead.

Go and sleep, It's 20:10 here. You no get talk.

I only wonder how you exist daily with the way you carry Buhari matter for your head like gala.

czarina:
Go and sleep, It's 20:10 here. You no get talk.

I only wonder how you exist daily with the way you carry Buhari matter for your head like gala.

I already knew u will resort to abuse. U have nothing coherent or sensible to say. Most of u resort to insults when u can't participate in an educative or high IQ debates. E'we

The UK are done!

Once upon a time there was a civilized country until the great influx of immigrants took over!

Theresa May!
Well-done!

oz4real83:
I already knew u will resort to abuse. U have nothing coherent or sensible to say. Most of u resort to insults when u can't participate in an educative or high IQ debates. E'we

Insults? Nah... those weren't.

Unku high IQ that had the "intelligence" to drag Buhari into the matter, well-done.

And what was educative about your post? It reeked of hate. So much hate that I wonder how your type even sleep at night.


Nwoke biko free yaself, no go die on top people wey no give a duck about you.

oz4real83:
Do u know how many dead people that were in buhari's board member lists in his first tenure? Idiot.s like u are one of the reasons nairaland is gradually become kids' play ground. U are ignorant but still chose to publicly display your ignorance instead of keeping quiet.

And they're all war heroes abi....

My grown up scholar

Explorers:
The graves of fallen British war heroes were deliberately smashed in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

The damage was intentional as none of the civilian headstones in the cemetery in Shipley, West Yorkshire, were touched.

Horrible !