Headstones lie in pieces and statues reduced to rubble after ‘cowardly’ vandals smashed dozens of headstones at a cemetery.
Among the 46 graves destroyed in Auburn Cemetery in country South Australia was a memorial to a fallen soldier killed 101 years ago in World War 1.
Local mayor Allan Aughey vowed to hunt down those responsible for the ‘act of barbarity’ and admitted he ‘just can’t come to terms with’ its severity.
Headstones lie in pieces and statues reduced to rubble after ‘cowardly’ vandals smashed 46 headstones at a cemetery in country South Australia
Local mayor Allan Aughey vowed to hunt down those responsible for the ‘act of barbarity’ and admitted he ‘just can’t come to terms with’ its severity
‘It’s a cowardly and dastardly act on an unprecedented scale. It’s an affront to our community. It’s a barbarous act,’ he told the Sunday Mail.
‘These people (responsible) need to be hunted down and given proper and appropriate punishment.’
Mr Aughey said it was ‘beyond his comprehension’ how anyone would damage a cemetery.
Among the graves destroyed was a memorial to a fallen soldier killed 101 years ago in World War 1
Private Walter Edmund Millard was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme in France in 1916
The RSL said it would possibly rededicate Private Millard’s memorial (pictured), which included a now-shattered angel statue, was restored
SA Premier Jay Weatherill denounced the ‘despicable act’ and pledged that the state government would help pay the up to $300,000 repair bill.
‘Once these cowards are caught they should pay for this senseless destruction,’ he tweeted.
The fallen soldier whose grave was knocked over a smashed was Private Walter Edmund Millard, who was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme in France.
He died on August 20, 1916, the day after his 30th birthday after enlisting a year before on his 29th birthday.
SA Premier Jay Weatherill denounced the ‘despicable act’ and pledged that the state government would help pay the up to $300,000 repair bill.
Mr Aughey said it was ‘beyond his comprehension’ how anyone would damage a cemetery
A gardener by trade, he served in the 10th Infantry Battalion and had a brother fighting in Egypt with the light horse.
He was a Freemason, a sidesman at the local St John’s Church, one of Auburn’s best football players, and called ‘universally popular’ in his obituary.
The RSL said it would possibly rededicate Private Millard’s memorial, which included a now-shattered angel statue, was restored.
The vandals have not yet been caught but police were investigating.
The vandals have not yet been caught but police were investigating