Mendlesham Memorial to the 34th Bombardment Group USAAF

That is great news, so sad this has happened,what is the world coming too ?

Does anybody have any contact details for this memorial as I have a benefactor looking at replacing it

Cheers

Dont worry – its not the best search engine in the world!

I’ve merged the two threads, for clarity

Thanks Bruce…………………..I did a search and for some reason previous thread never appeared:confused:

A225HVY

I’ve merged the two threads, for clarity

How do they ever manage to sell something like this??? Surely the scrap dealers would report them????
Jim

Really? I don’t think so!

Smash it up, then sell it I guess.

How do they ever manage to sell something like this??? Surely the scrap dealers would report them????
Jim

Hang the *******s!

Mendlesham Memorial theft

I’m surprised this hasn’t been picked up on……..

Picked up from a Volkswagen forum I use :(:(:(:(

http://www.volkszone.co.uk/VZi/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=7246261

Some people are beyond redemption!!

I guess a lot of you peeps noticed the war memorial just outside the entrance to Santa pod raceway – if not, there is a thread on here that features a picture of it.

That plaque is a memorial to the thousands of young men that ventured forth from these shores and were vaporised in the cold thin air over europe in an effort to end the brutality and slavery imposed by the vilest regime in modern history.

Most airfields have similar monuments. There used to be one at Mendlesham, that commemorates the efforts of the 34th heavy bomb group.

……………..until the P****s took it for scrap last week 😡

Mod note – Two threads have been merged from here downwards.

We are all stuck with a system which is not perfect. It is tempting to think of direct action however that can backfire badly. Instead the only way forward is to gather evidence and help/involve the police. The majority of the police have also got the same feeling of frustration and also want to prosecute the people responsible.

Locally in North Scotland I have read of one travellers site which was closed, then demolished by the council. I have also seen on the goggle box footage of a well organised raid by police and other agencies on a site which resulted in court cases and disruption to criminals.

Kev

I think you have made a very good point and I admire your determination to proactivity. But that needs the support and succour of the authorities and our elected representatives. My experience of that has been that they fall short on every count and as far as “travellers” are concerned, they are practically a protected species in Kent, where I have had some experience of them.

I am sceptical that the mood will be any different after the election, when whoever forms a government will have far more important things on their minds.

If I may, having had some experience with both pikeys and scrap dealers, sadly I would say that there is little chance of this plaque being recovered, the former group of individuals are totally adept at melting down beer barrels on open fires,so what chance a bronze plaque?

the second group have (in the main) considerably more in common with the first group, than the rest of us; in either event it will get mixed in with a large amount of similar material.

There will be no raids on camps, whilst they are all the same to us, in the eyes of the law they are all individuals and it would be akin to raiding a whole street, but not looking for any one person.

I would urge those on this forum that are involved with the placing of memorials, to serioulsy consider the use of either stone, or resin, because this problem won’t go away; one of the worst aspects (for me) is my total lack of suprise, and a reluctant acceptance of this sort of behaviour that is indicative of a country going down the pan.

Has anyone any idea what the dimensions of the bronzework were?
To recreate in resin would necessitate accurate measurements. As I mentioned before, we need to find out if a template for the original actually exists anywhere, either in the USA, or here somewhere.

A fund can be created easily enough. What is needed first is a general help message put out to all scrap processors in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex highlighting the theft and asking for vigilance. I would like to think that they themselves have a few scruples.

Andy.

I can see your point and I have to respect that because of the respect I have for you and what you have achieved. but can you imagine the response if a couple of us march into a ‘pikey’ camp making enquiries? At best we’d meet a closed door, at worst, we’d probably find ouselves on our way to casualty. Just look at the efforts you alone have put into ensuring that the memories of those who died in the service of their Country is remembered. But we can’t tarnish that by taking the law they fought for into our own hands. I know you don’t condone vigilante action and that you fully appreciate the concept of innocence until guilt is proven, but if we take the law into our own hands, then those aircrew who died in the Battle of Britain might just as well have had swastikas painted on their aircraft instead of roundels.

ZRX61.

You know as well as I do that no British Government will EVER introduce a law such as you propose, so no, it’s not as simple as it seems.

Red Hunter.

There may well be a law which covers such acts of theft and vandalism as this. And perhaps now, in the aftermath of the forthcoming general election, is the time to bring this to the fore. Newly elected MP’s will be looking to make themselves popular to those who they represent. Perhaps it’s time to encourage a groundswell of public opinion to shame those with authority into taking action.

I don’t know whether I’m right or wrong on this but isn’t it better to be proactive than just sit here muttering about what we would do to the culprits if we ever got our hands on them?

It was just a thought, perhaps ill-conceived.

I’ll get my coat.

Regards,

kev35

I suspect that among our myriad existing laws there probably already is a law which would deal with it – if the authorities have the balls to enforce it.

I’d perhaps throw something like the following in as a starting point. Anyone else have any thoughts?

Dear Sir/Madam.

It is becoming increasingly common to hear of the theft of metal plaques from War Memorials nationwide. These Memorials are a lasting reminder of the lives of those who paid the ultimate price in ensuring such freedoms as we enjoy today. The lives these Memorials represent are their legacy to us. Even now, when British men and women are fighting and dying in the service of their Country, is it not imcumbent on us to recognise their sacrifice and ensure that these War Memorials remain undisturbed?

To this end, I urge members of Parliament of all parties, the Police Service, Councils, local and National Press and those in the scrap metal industry to begin a concerted campaign to ensure the future of the Memorials to those who have died in the service of their Country.

Regards,

kev35

Theres actually a realy simple solution:
Pass a law that makes interfering with/removing/vandalizing war memorials punishable by a sentence 15 years minmum.

The only people who would oppose such a punishment need to be looked at very closely by those who favour it..

Regarding our Pikey chums, who are no doubt the chief suspects here, it is a very one sided situation. They get given everything to cater for their travelling ways, but yet they continue to theive, trash and upset most areas they visit. Yet the Police won’t go near them and the law does nothing. I know from recent experience on the trading estate that I work that the Police won’t intervene no matter what these people do. A business across the road from us had to fork out £3000 to get them off his property after they invaded his car park and refused to budge. The law did nothing to help. Why do we have to give in to these theives?

Sorry to rant…and off tropic I suppose….

Regards;
Steve

Well, one guy did have a plan for dealing with them….but we stopped him before he finished the job;)

Well, that’s a relief!;) And I can see you are wanted over on another thread where you have great expertise.:)

If I may, could I just say that I am not one who encourages/supports vigilante action. However, since it was “suggested” that Pikeys might have been responsible (and lets face it, they very likely were!!) then I see no good reason why those who know what they are looking for should pay the local camp a visit and make enquiries/have a look, as well as calling on local scrappies who, usually, accept scrap from these idividuals without too many questions asked. The likelihood that the Police will do so is, probably, on the low side.

My feelings about Pikeys stealing scrap are probably not printable here. Some will recall that Andy Cresswell, a member of the Headcorn/Lashenden Museum of Air Warfare, was brutally murdered just over a year ago by three individuals stealing scrap. It seems he disturbed them behind his premesis. Three individuals, whom some might well describe as falling into the category of Pikeys, were arrested and are currently on Police bail. Others, I believe, were charged with perverting the course of justice for burning a car used in the commission of a crime. But, of course, we shouldn’t be beastly about these pillars of society…should we?

My wife has taught in a school where there are children parented (although I use that word in its loosest sense!) by such individuals. These kids acess the education and health system, whilst there parents contribute nothing to the state. These parents are also abusive and threatening to teaching staff and education welfare officers. In the village here, last year, Pikeys took over a farmers field and removed all of his new five-bar gates. Some they burnt, but others the vigilantes….sorry, typo, villagers…..found the others piled on a Pikey truck ready for re-sale.

Sorry, but I really dont feel much like being nice to the vermin. I don’t condone vigilante action, and I accept innocent until proven guilty must be the mantra. Always. However, I see no reason why asking questions of these individuals is not appropriate. If there is a camp near the memorial it is the obvious place to look/ask.

Having known well someone who was clearly murdered by such individuals, and delivered a eulogy at his funeral, well….it doesn’t make me feel much like having any truck with the lilly livered PC brigade who don’t want us to doubt the integrity of these fine individuals and members of the community.

And yes, I think your draft letter is excellent Kev.

Rant over.