13-05-2025
Vandals accused of 'insulting' war heroes after damaging memorial wreath in Scots town
Members of the RH Youth Organisation in Lockerbie were furious when they discovered a wreath at the town's war memorial had been damaged.
Vandals in a Scots town have been accused of 'insulting' war heroes after a memorial wreath was damaged.
A special ceremony had been held at the war memorial in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway on Thursday to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
However, by Saturday night members of the RH Youth Organisation – who had laid one of the wreaths – discovered one had been damaged.
The group's Robert Humes said: 'I went along and had a look and it was just a mess. I don't know or understand why someone would do that.
'We had all had such a great week in Lockerbie. The community council had organised the event on Thursday and we had our own event on Saturday. People came and joined in our picnic and we had war time music.
'To find that on Saturday just dampened the whole thing. All the people who gave up their lives and the people that are serving – it was an insult to those who fought and died for their country.
'You just get some disrespectful people and it's really disappointing to happen in this day and age.'
Mr Humes said that as well as the RH Youth Organisation wreath, there was one from toe town's Rotary club and one on behalf of everyone in Lockerbie.
He added: 'Someone had made the wreath so time and effort has gone into that and it's been destroyed.
'The police have apparently been informed so I hope they find whoever has done it and there's cameras on the high street as well.
'People might say it's just a wreath but it represents something. It's a generic insult to the whole country. I'm hoping they'll find the culprit – I don't know if it was youth or adults. Even if they just apologised and replaced the wreath it would help.
'Young people were paying their respects and one or two in the organisation have their dad serving. Their mum was on the street as well and was there representing on behalf of her husband. It's a knock-on effect.
'There's a lot of comments from upset people about it, people have messaged saying they're sorry to hear it and who would do such a thing.
