The Dishonouring Of A Fallen Hero.

Where is this memorial?

The crash site is in Co Tyrone, a couple of miles from Donaghmore.

I can sympathise with you, the same happened here in Jersey to a memorial plaque I was instrumental in placing. Some faceless individual painted swastikas on it twice in as many weeks.

You are doing a great job Robsky, don’t let idiots put you off.

Robsky, first of all well done putting up the memorials in the first place.

havent heard of this kind of thing happening too often even in the bad old days….I would be pretty sure that it was probably the same sort of mindless a**holes you get in any part of the civilised world , i doubt if there were political overtones unless of the public house variety !

Would be interested in visiting, i have relations west of Omagh so am in the area pretty often, Can you give me more details either here or by PM?

I have placed a few plaques around Ulster, but this is the first one which has been smashed up. The farmer has shown his disgust and has put a marker stone in the field where the crash had taken place. I just do not understand why. I was told that the local residents were happy to have the crash site marked.

You have my sympathy and you are not alone as there have been several terrible and disgusting things done to memorials in the past couple of years. Please do not let on idiot dissuade you from keeping the memory alive!

I think one of the problems here is that the WWII has no significance to some younger members of society – in their eyes it is long forgotten history with no relevance to them.

My brothers step daughter is 14 yrs old has no knowledge of any aspect of WWII they have simply not covered it in school…..[and I’m not infering that it was teenagers who did the damage]

That said of course it is not an excuse at all to vandalise anything!!

Well done and don’t allow them to dishearten you.

Man i am not kind of emotional person but i must say that what you feel about that mishap and your efforts to keep them alive in the memories of generation is really appreciable.
ALL THE BEST.
HOPE YOU WILL GET WHAT YOU NEED.

Does your Memorial Plaque contain British Military Ensignia

Some Irish do not respect British Emblems especially on their soil. I will not impugn, judge or fault them for that. Some have a deep resentment for most things British. I do not think it is justifiable but it may play a part in the defacing of your memorials.

It is appalling, whoever is guilty. If it is teenagers, for the reason implied by an earlier post – that WW2 has no significance and it is not taught in schools – then we know who to blame – again!:mad:

Some Irish do not respect British Emblems especially on their soil. I will not impugn, judge or fault them for that. Some have a deep resentment for most things British. I do not think it is justifiable but it may play a part in the defacing of your memorials.

I cast the plaque from the aircraft parts so it is just a basic one just information. I will try to attach a picture.

Robsky,
I recently returned to N.Ireland for a visit after a period of some 25 years and though materially Belfast has changed for the better the hearts of the people are still polarized.
My wife and I were the subject of a documentry by BBC N Ireland “Homesick” seen about 3 weeks ago in N Ireland.
However we were saddened by the lack of change in the minds of a lot of people who should know better. There well could be a political facet on this stupid distruction so be careful in setting it up again because if done once it could be in danger a second time.

Who was the pilot?

Who was the pilot?

Hi Ian the pilots name was Sub/Lt J S Hornby. From New Zealand.

Really sorry to hear of this Robsky. I know a site where the farmer placed one of the aircrafts prop blades as a memorial but the blade was stolen:mad: it turned up a few years ago in the hands of a collector,it seems he “collected” it from the farmyard.

Some Irish do not respect British Emblems especially on their soil. I will not impugn, judge or fault them for that. Some have a deep resentment for most things British. I do not think it is justifiable but it may play a part in the defacing of your memorials.

It’s possible that this may have been a factor in the act of vandalism- just a suggestion, but is it worth re-wording the plaque to mention only the NZ nationalityand minimalise or remove any british reference?

It may seem like appeasement or compromise, but if it stops attacks on the memorial its a small price to pay but may be worth it.

All the best. Rad

Hi Ian the pilots name was Sub/Lt J S Hornby. From New Zealand.

Thanks; and thanks also for doing this for a New Zealander.

Remembering the fallen

The fallen of whatevewr nationality should be remembered.If more people took the time to pu tup more memorials to the fallen then some respect and history would be preserved in these strange times we seem to live in.

Well done for the effort keep it up !!!