Vandalism of soldier sculpture outside church sparks outrage

Members of the Royal British Legion in Cradley have told of their shock and disgust at the desecration of an aluminium composite Tommy soldier, on the churchyard wall at St Peter’s Church in Church Road, which has been beheaded.

Steve Hill, a member of Cradley Royal British Legion, had the figure and 79 others created at Sentinel Plastics Ltd in Old Hill, where he works as a director; and poppy appeal organiser Dave Brenton put them up in various community locations in Cradley.

Mr Brenton, vice chairman of the Royal British Legion Branch, said: “I placed the soldiers on the church boundary wall last year for the Remembrance weekend and they stood proud for the last year.

“Recently someone has taken it upon themselves to destroy them by pulling the head off one and bending the rifles on another two.

“These figures were donated by a local business at quite a cost to them and I find it utterly disrespectful that someone could do this.

Cllr James Clinton, left, in Mary Stevens Park with some of the soldier statues donated by Sentinel Plastics Ltd in 2023, with Dave Brenton who inspired the project, Steve Hill of Sentinel Plastics Ltd and Bob Partridge from Stourbridge Royal British Legion. (Image: Cllr James Clinton)

“If we could move back in time I would like to take whoever is responsible to the battle fields of Europe and let them see the horror of war and then perhaps they would respect what our fore fathers did for their freedom they have today.”

He said the act of vandalism had left him feeling “annoyed” but he promised to replace the headless Tommy figure in time for Remembrance.

Steve Hill also voiced his frustration, saying: “The fact that it’s been vandalised is annoying and the lack of understanding and what it represents.

“We’ll replace it, we have some more, but it does mean one won’t be going up somewhere else.”

Mr Hill and Pedmore councillor James Clinton shared out the 80 statues between them to dot them around Cradley and Stourbridge for last year’s Remembrance period. Some, however, were left up permanently.