DESECRATED
Pair of thugs attack Boer War memorial with hammer
FOR more than a century, the Scots soldier has gazed from his rocky outcrop across the park. Now it appears he has a new fight on his hands.
The memorial to brave Scots who fell far from home has been desecrated in an apparent twisted backlash against British colonialism and Empire.
Police are hunting two thugs who vandalised the memorial to the officers and men of the Highland Light Infantry, known as the City of Glasgow regiment, who died during the Boer War.
The statue had its face smashed, its right foot damaged and its left foot hacked off. A dog walker saw two teenagers attacking the memorial with a hammer in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, late on Wednesday night.
The suspects ran off and are believed to have thrown part of the damaged statue into the River Kelvin.
A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: ‘This is a truly depressing and shameful act of vandalism.
‘The statue was originally raised in 1906 by ordinary, local men in tribute to their fallen comrades and is very much part of the story of Glasgow. The roll of honour on the plinth still resonates sharply with families all across the city and they will be aghast at the damage done.
‘Whoever is responsible has not only defaced a statue, but also put an ugly scar across a much loved public space.’
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Officers believe the Highland Light Infantry statue was damaged between 11pm and 11.20pm on Wednesday and are appealing for anyone who may have been in the park around the time of the incident to contact them.’