It is very rare a memorial is vandalised and is naturally an emotive subject
Police posted photos of their officers cleaning up the war memorial after the vandals attacked it and residents took to Twitter to thank them.
Tweeter jay_hp posed: "How disgusting to damage a war memorial."
Twitter user Ali wrote: "Our local police cleaning damage done overnight to war memorial on Lewisham Way (Brockley) overnight. Thank you".
While Malaiali Kulfi tweeted: "What a stupid thing to do. Hope there is no permanent damage? Thanks for the clean up old chaps."
Robert Cardwell added: "Well done @MPSLewisham for cleaning up the vandalized war memorial #Topteam #Credittothecommunity #Thankyou #Hopetheycatchthem".
@MPSLewisham Well done to Team B officers. How disgusting to damage a war memorial.
— Jane (@jay_hp) July 30, 2014
Well done @MPSLewisham for cleaning up the vandalized war memorial #Topteam #Credittothecommunity #Thankyou #Hopetheycatchthem
— robert cardwell (@crazycanary22) July 30, 2014
@MPSLewisham Oh no. What a stupid thing to do. Hope there is no permanent damage? Thanks for the clean up old chaps.
— Malaiali Kulfi (@sidin) July 30, 2014
A Royal British Legion spokesperson described the act of vandalism as a "senseless" act and said they were "saddened" to hear of it.
They added: "War memorials and graves honour the memory of the British Armed Forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend the freedom we enjoy today."
The vandals targeted the stone column at one end of the Deptford WW1 Memorial Gardens earlier today.
The 23 foot tall monument includes figures of a soldier and a sailor in full war kit.
It carries the inscription: "Deptford's Tribute To Her Gallant Sons Who Were Faithful Unto Death 1914-1918 1939-1945."
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