Vandalism Mierlo War Cemetery, Netherlands

No words. I visited the cemetery a few years ago and remember it was next to a fairly busy main road, so hopefully someone saw something.

Vandalism at Mierlo War Cemetery

Fury and disbelief in Mierlo as vandals spray war graves with swastika, graffiti - DutchNews.nl

 

I can't imagine how I would feel if one of the graves was a soldier from my family.

 

Nothing will happen to them if caught the woolly laws of most countries do not punish.

We all know what should happen to them

 

A shame! disrespectful! Cheap: these graves cannot defend themselves.

For sure, the damage will be restored. In the meantime this cheap, boorish obscene behaviour above all reflects the character of the perpetrator(s) ... sniffed alcoholic(s), ignorant low live(s), spirits that don't matter

This is so not how we treat our Liberators in Holland.

 

Totally agree with your last sentence, stolpi. Good to see this widely reported in the Netherlands. The locals are probably more disgusted than the rest of us and have already started helping out with the clean-up process. Unfortunately, there are idiots everywhere.

 

Such a shame and the daubing doesn't appear to make a lot of sense (the words, the act itself is senseless)
Is the reference "MH17 Lie" a reference to the airliner shot down over the Ukraine? That flight originated in Amsterdam..
..... but what that has to do with a CWGC cemetery is beyond me.....

 

Sadly, it will certainly get more airtime and publicity than a protest - it has made news here in Australia as well, and yes, the MH17 reference was quoted again, and again, and again.

Disgusting on all levels - these men gave their lives for such idiots to be able to make statements without fear of persecution, but the utter lack of respect deserves a harsh penalty. Sadly, as others have said, it probably won't be at all forthcoming . . .

 

Ladies and Gentlemen … we've got 'em! Or at least a suspect has been arrested by the police, a 36 years old man from Mierlo.

Man aangehouden voor bekladden oorlogsgraven

Man uit Mierlo opgepakt om bekladden oorlogsbegraafplaats

Verdachte van bekladden Britse oorlogsbegraafplaats Mierlo aangehouden | NU - Het laatste nieuws het eerst op NU.nl

The maximum punishment for grave crime in Holland is a prison sentence of one year or a fine of € 7,400.00.

If he really is the perpetrator, he hopefully will be heavily fined and then spent the next decade or so paying off the costs of the cleaning operation

 

My Great Uncle was Frank Foster of the 2nd Bn Gordon Highlanders in this site. Died on 25-09-44 at the Cement works (brickyard). Joined up at the start of the war. To say I am quite cross would be an understatement.

 

Holland is aghast. People are hard at work repairing the damage done, so that the rememberance ceremony of next Tuesday, Sept 17th, can go on (celebration of the start of Market-Garden).

Chemicals were tried, but they don't work because of the paint that was used. All headstones and monuments now have to be sandblasted by hand. Some headstones probably will need to be engraved again. Mark my words this culprit will be bled empty ... financially .

Bewoners Mierlo onthutst, lastige klus om bekladde graven schoon te krijgen

In the meantime a flower tribute started at the entrance of the now temporarily closed cemetery:

 

My thoughts are with Pte. Adolphus Appleton of the 10th Bn Highland Light Infantry who was killed on the 31/10/1944 from Cockermouth who is buried in this cemetery and all the rest of the brave lads who gave their lives for the freedom of the Netherlands.

May the mindless moron rot (that's me putting it politely !)

Mike.

 

I've seen many images of vandalism carried out within our War Cemeteries and this latest graffiti-type attack is possibly the worst I've ever seen.

Initial BBC link sent to me via friend in Holland.

Vandals deface British WW2 graves in Netherlands

Vandalism at Mierlo War Cemetery

Fury and disbelief in Mierlo as vandals spray war graves with swastika, graffiti - DutchNews.nl

LEST WE FORGET​

Tony Buckley www.asiawargraves.com