Two mothers have been caught vandalising a new memorial bench commemorating First World War heroes.

The pair crudely wrote ‘Shell’ and ‘Jane’ in the wet cement in front of their young children.

They were soon branded an ‘absolute disgrace’ and ‘disgusting’ by locals reacting to the photo on a Facebook community page.

The mothers were caught vandalising the WW1 bench in front of their young children (Picture: Horncastle Community Page)

The memorial was unveiled in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, on 18 February to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War, The Sun reports.


The immortal words ‘Lest we forget’ adorn the back of the metal bench which shows soldiers and a warhorse bowing their heads in remembrance by a field of poppies.



It had been tarnished the next day by the vandals, with their names permanently dried into the concrete below.

Helen Lea shared the photo of the women leaning over the cordon to Horncastle Community Facebook page.

The pair wrote ‘Shell’ and ‘Jane’ in the wet cement (Picture: Horncastle Community Page)

Their little ones stand close by watching their mothers commit the disrespectful act.

Julie Goy wrote online: ‘I walked past this bench earlier, 12.15 today with my granddaughter who is nearly two and we stood and admired it, she liked the red poppies.

‘It was fine then and no damage. What a dreadful shame, should be ashamed of themselves.’

Chris Hewis was admiring the bench the other day, but said: ‘I did say to my mum how long will it be for someone disrespects it? Less than a day.’

Horncastle mayor Brian Burbidge told The Sun: ‘I can only hope those responsible will learn to appreciate that the bench was placed there to commemorate the sacrifices made by so many during the First World War.’

Lincolnshire Police said a woman had been questioned over the damage.

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