Vandalism at Thiepval Memorial

We are disappointed to learn of a minor incident of vandalism at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Thiepval Memorial in France where the contents of a register box were set alight.

CWGC’s Director for France, Xavier Puppinck, said: “This type of petty vandalism is a shame, but there is no functional damage to the memorial and what damage there is, is easily rectified. The incident has been reported to the local authorities and our teams, while respecting the current restrictions, will take all necessary action in the next few days.”

The Thiepval Memorial is the largest Commonwealth war memorial in the world. Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, it commemorates by name more than 72,000 servicemen who died in the Somme and who have no known grave.