Fundraiser launched for damaged war memorial

A war memorial, with a hexagonal stone base, and four tiers up to the base for the cross, though the cross is lying on the grass behind it. Some large stones are dislodged. There are Remembrance wreathes on top of, and next to, the monument.ADVA

Villagers hope a restored memorial will be ready for the next Remembrance Day

Villagers have begun raising money to repair a war memorial that was badly damaged after being hit by a vehicle.

The stone cross in Awbridge, Hampshire, was knocked off its plinth and several of the large blocks at its base were dislodged following the collision in January.

Kerry Daley, from Awbridge District Village Association, helped set up a GoFundMe page after residents offered to help.

"It'll be really great to see it back in its former glory in the centre of the village," she told the BBC.

A war memorial is cracked and broken, its cross fallen onto the grass next to it. Wreaths and debris are scattered around.Peter Allen

The monument still had Remembrance wreaths on it at the time of the collision

The monument, which is situated opposite the primary school at the junction of Romsey Road and Danes Road, still had Remembrance wreaths on it at the time of the crash.

Ms Daley said the memorial, which was first unveiled in 1921, was "always jampacked with people on Remembrance Sunday" and she hoped to have it reinstated before November's commemorations.

An alternate view of the damage. More debris can be seen from this angle. Peter Allen

The memorial in Awbridge was first unveiled in 1921

She said when she first saw the damage her reaction was "shock and horror".

Because the village is "such a small, close knit community", she said lots of people had phoned her saying: "If I can help support, what can I do?"

The fundraiser was a way to "set up a funnel for villagers to be able to pay in and give something"," Ms Daley added.

"People wanted to help and it's not like you can all come along and start putting it together," she explained.

Awbridge Parish Council is expected to claim insurance but any funds raised will go towards reinstating the landscape around the memorial, cleaning it and setting up new flowerboxes and blooms.

Shortly after the collision, Nick Adams-King, leader of Hampshire County Council, described the damage as "heartbreaking".

He said: "The police are investigating but it would seem whoever did this disappeared without admitting responsibility."

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is still investigating.

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