Vandals target floodlights at recently repaired Prestonpans war memorial

A WAR memorial which underwent major repairs as part of funding to mark the centenary of the First World War has been vandalised ahead of Remembrance Day.

Targeted: Prestonpans memorial

The memorial in Prestonpans was being routinely checked by ahead of next month’s commemorations to mark the end of the 1914-18 Great War when the damage to floodlights was discovered.

Ward councillors Fiona O’Donnell and Willie Innes moved to reassure residents that the memorial would be repaired ahead of Remembrance Day and urged anyone who saw anything suspicious to contact the police and pass on information about those responsible.

In a joint statement they issued, the local politicians said: “Following damage to the floodlights at the war memorial in our town, we want to reassure the community that the repairs will be promptly carried out.

“While our act of remembrance this year will be different, we have acted quickly to make sure that the war memorial is a fitting place where we can remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“We have a strong tradition in Prestonpans of coming together as a community to remember the fallen, and the numbers who march and gather at the war memorial are a hundred times greater than those who carried out this disrespectful and hurtful act of vandalism.

“We would encourage anyone with information to contact Police Scotland on 101.”

East Lothian Council has cancelled official Remembrance Day parades and gatherings this year as part of its Covid response; however, it is expected local groups, including the Royal British Legion, will lay wreaths individually to mark those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Prestonpans memorial, which was erected in 1922, received nearly £13,000 in funds to undergo repairs and refurbishment as part of the centenary commemorations.

The striking memorial has the figure of a soldier of the 8th Battalion The Royal Scots standing at the top.

Mr Innes, council leader, added: “It can be very distressing for family members who have relatives included on this memorial to see this damage but it’s also particularly upsetting as we approach the period of remembrance in the UK.”

Marie Sharp , Local Democracy Reporting Service

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