War graves of Kent comrades damaged in Gaza crossfire

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War graves of Kent comrades damaged in Gaza crossfire

Some of the war graves in Gaza

An army regiment has condemned the desecration of a Middle Eastern cemetery where 56 of its fallen comrades are buried as “senseless” and “horrifying”.

The Commonwealth War Cemetery in Gaza City is the final resting place of thousands of British World War One soldiers and has been caught in the crossfire between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.

Fifty-six soldiers from the Kent regiment that inspired sitcom Dad’s Army are buried at the site, alongside 3,686 Commonwealth soldiers killed fighting the Ottoman Empire in 1917.

In the last few months, some of these graves have been damaged and destroyed by gunfire, cannons and military vehicles, but the Israeli Government has so far failed to respond to calls for action from the British Embassy.

Major Dennis Bradley said on behalf of the Queen’s Own Buffs Royal Regiment Association, an amalgamation of the two regiments the Kent casualties came from, that the news was distressing.

“We abhor what is happening and find it unacceptable that our fallen comrades’ graves are being desecrated in this manner,” he told Kent on Sunday. “We hope the Israeli Government will ensure that the graves are restored.

“The Commonwealth War Graves Association look after these cemeteries particularly well, and to think all this work is destroyed for senseless malice is horrifying.”

Earlier this month, an Israeli attack helicopter fired its canon at a large memorial stone in the cemetery and numerous headstones have been pummelled with shrapnel during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Serious damage was caused in July when an Israeli army bulldozer drove over a mass grave for 184 soldiers and destroyed several trees and part of the perimeter wall.

Thirty-two graves were also destroyed two years ago by Palestinian vandals angered by the reported abuse of Iraqi prisoners by British and American troops.

The Kent men buried at Gaza were from the 2/4 Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, a territorial battalion, and included one soldier from the Buffs East Kent Regiment (BEKR).

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which manages the cemetery, said it was protesting in the “strongest possible terms” to the Israeli Government about the damage and was working to repair the fabric of the grounds.

The Israeli Government said its army does not target religious sites, but has made no further comment.

POSTED: 17/11/2006 17:09:33

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