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Wednesfield war memorial restored after theft

Wednesfield’s war memorial which was targeted by metal thieves has been restored to its former glory.

Great news today as the war memorial in Wednesfield which was targeted by vandals / metal thieves has been restored to its former glory in time for next week’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

Two bronze plaques on the War Memorial commemorating the 174 names of people from Wednesfield who died in the First and Second World Wars were stolen by thieves in May.

The plates have now been replaced with new bronze plaques which were installed this week thanks to funding from West Midlands Police, the War Memorials Trust and Wolverhampton City Council.

The new plaques have been embedded in the granite memorial which stands in the Garden of Remembrance on Church Street, just behind the old Library building.

New names added after appeal

They record the names of 112 people who fell during the First World War and 62 people who laid down their lives in the Second World War. The latter includes the names of an additional five local people identified through an appeal led by former Wolverhampton Mayor Phil Bateman.

Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: “The restoration of the Wednesfield War Memorial is great news for the local community and it is very fitting that it has been completed in time for this year’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

“The people who vandalised the memorial earlier this year clearly have no conscience and no respect for the men and women who have given their lives to help make our world a better place.

“The thefts rightly caused great outrage among veterans and local residents and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the memorial’s restoration which will enable the people of Wednesfield to pay tribute, once again, to those who laid down their lives for their country.”

WV11 would like to say a personal thanks to West Midlands Police, the War Memorials Trust and Wolverhampton City Council for making sure this important piece of local history was restored.

Photo: Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities Councillor Elias Mattu, Police Community Support Officer Steven Simpson and Wolverhampton City Council’s Parks District Manager Steve Male and Historic Environment Officer Jon Beesley inspect the restored memorial.


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