A 20-YEAR-OLD Cleveland man has been charged after police alleged he climbed Cleveland’s historic war memorial while intoxicated and broke part of the monument.
Bayside Criminal Investigation Branch alleges the man climbed onto the war memorial monument in Anzac Park, on Shore Street West, overnight between Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8 before leaving the scene.
He presented himself at a Gold Coast police station around midday on Monday, November 9, and has since been charged with one count of wilful damage (cemeteries).
The man is expected to appear in Cleveland Court on December 8.
Acting Mayor Julie Talty condemned the damage as a “senseless act of destruction and disrespect”.
Two large stone sections of the Cleveland Cenotaph’s column were found broken on the ground at Anzac Memorial Park, opposite Redlands RSL Cr Talty said the damage was particularly personal because one of the fallen named on the memorial was her grandfather’s oldest brother.
“I’m disgusted that somebody would do this to a memorial that has survived over 100 years,” she said.
“It is personal as well because one of the fallen that’s named on there is my grandfather’s oldest brother.” Cr Talty said one broken section contained the cenotaph’s carved standing rifle, with its barrel broken about halfway up.
“It is pretty badly damaged,” she said.
“I doubt that it will be salvageable, but, if at all possible, everyone is quite emotional about it, so I’m sure they will try.”
A Council crew made the area safe and removed the larger pieces respectfully.
The material will be retained for possible assessment by stonemasons.
The 1920 Cleveland War Memorial is the centrepiece of the Anzac Memorial Park precinct and carries the names of 15 people who died in World War I and 14 from World War II, including Sister C. Thiedeke and one serviceman listed as missing.
