Press statement - Dalziel Cemetery Vandalism

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is disgusted by an act of vandalism that has seen war graves in Dalziel (Globe) Cemetery desecrated ahead of remembrance time.

Stones marking the graves of three Commonwealth soldiers from the First World War have been deliberately smashed.

Iain Anderson, the CWGC’s Manager for war graves in Scotland said: “In a few days we are due to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. It beggars belief that someone could do this at any time but at this time of year it is particularly upsetting.

We are sending a team of our craftsmen to the cemetery to see what can be done. Those markers beyond repair will be placed on priority order, while we hope others can be repaired. We are also working with the local authorities on this matter.

“We will restore the war graves to a standard befitting the sacrifice of those buried here as soon as possible and will never allow such acts to diminish the memory of those who paid so high a price for the freedoms we enjoy.”

Jim Logue, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council said: “We were appalled to learn of this mindless act of vandalism within a cemetery. At a time when the nation is preparing to mark the Centenary of the end of the Great War, this despicable act is all the more galling. We are urgently meeting with the War Graves Commission to discuss what action can be taken to make repairs. I would urge anyone with information about this hideous crime to contact the police.”

The three vandalised war graves in the cemetery were marked with a form of pedestal stone – known to the CWGC as a Gallipoli marker – in 2016. This form of marker was first used by the CWGC after the First World War in Gallipoli, Turkey.