Vandals have spray-painted an Oxford war memorial.
The word ’thives’ [sic] has been scrawled and the inscription defaced on the Tirah Memorial in Bonn Square.
The monument was erected in 1900 to commemorate the 64 men of the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire Light Infantry who died in the 1897 - 98 Tirah Expedition and Punjab Frontier Campaign to suppress rebel tribes on the north-west frontier of British India.
The Tirah Region is what is now north-west Pakistan on the Afghanistan border.
The Tirah Memorial was unveiled in 1900, making it Oxford's first war memorial.
Duncan Taylor, who reported the crime, said: "This is particularly concerning as it is just a few weeks to go until the annual November 11 ceremonies to honour soldiers who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars."
Thames Valley Police has been contacted for comment.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel