‘Heartless thieves’ steal Mansfield village's new Silent Soldier monument

Heartless thieves have stolen a silent soldier monument which stood guard in memory of Kings Clipstone’s war dead.
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The steel commemorative feature was only installed at the end of October, in time for Remembrance Day, and is believed to have been taken in the hours of darkness between Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14.

It had been positioned on top of the area known to local people as the Rat Hole, on the B6030.

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Residents had recently helped to make a cascade of hundreds of knitted and crocheted red poppies to compliment the feature.

Catherine Hunt pictured at the Silent Soldier monument - Picture Alan HuntCatherine Hunt pictured at the Silent Soldier monument - Picture Alan Hunt
Catherine Hunt pictured at the Silent Soldier monument - Picture Alan Hunt

The monument had been made and donated to the village by A1 Flue Systems based in Boughton.

Kings Clipstone parish councillor Cate Hunt said: “Some despicable person or persons have cut it off from the bottom and taken it away. It was all done in darkness, these hooligans even went to the trouble of burying the illuminated light by it into the soil, so they could not be seen doing their disgusting deed.

"We are appealing for anyone who might have CCTV or dash-cam footage or who may have seen anything suspicious. Perhaps a scrap- metal dealer may be approached with the item to buy as scrap metal. Someone must know something about it.

Silent Soldier monument seen shortly before it was taken from Kings ClipstoneSilent Soldier monument seen shortly before it was taken from Kings Clipstone
Silent Soldier monument seen shortly before it was taken from Kings Clipstone
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"It was very heavy, so it would have taken at least two people to move the soldier and they would have needed some kind of a vehicle to move it. It is unusual as it has two poppies either side of the soldier, so is quite distinctive.

"If anyone was in the area of Old School Lane or came along the B630 and saw anyone removing it we hope they would get in touch.

She added: "I just can't express how I feel about all the hard work by so many people to remember those who gave their lives for this country, whilst for the low life of our society who are just, heartless, they destroy everything.”

The empty space where the Silent Soldier was at Kings ClipstoneThe empty space where the Silent Soldier was at Kings Clipstone
The empty space where the Silent Soldier was at Kings Clipstone
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Anyone who has any information about the theft of the Silent Soldier statue is asked to contact Nottinghamshire Police on the non-emergency number 101.

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