There was outrage amongst members of the Royal British Legion as a cross to fallen war
heroes and an RBL time capsule were both found to have been vandalised in recent
separate attacks in Mil Palmeras and Torrevieja.
Mil Palmeras, the RBL time capsule which sits alongside the Remembrance Garden in the
forecourt of the Catholic Church Capilla de las Mil Palmeras was attacked. The time capsule
sits under a heavy glass cover which looked as though it had been shattered with a heavy
bar or hammer. The time capsule contains a number of specially chosen items which depict
the establishment and evolution of the Orihuela and Costa District Branch. This includes
documents, photographs and CD’s all of which were laid in whats was thought to be a safe
haven for future generations to enjoy.
Committee member and RBL Standard Bearer Eddie Coleman, was first to notice the
smashed cover and has since been hard at work repairing the damage. He had to remove
the ruined glass and cover the plinth with a temporary top until such time as a new cover
can be ordered. Mr Coleman also said that whilst he was carrying out the repair he found
evidence of drug usage by the side of the monument.
In La Siesta, just outside the Parish Church, the marble base of the cross standing in the RBL
Memorial Garden has also been damaged by someone using a heavy object and although
the incidents are thought not to be related, it’s a double blow for the organisation, which
now has to pay for the repairs. The base of the cross also appears to have been dealt several
heavy blows with a hammer. The mindless vandalism has left the rectangular base smashed,
resulting in several thousands of euros worth of damage.
The vandalism in La Siesta was first noticed by Pastor Keith Brown, the Chaplain of the Royal
British Legion in Spain North, who regularly visits the monument to pay his respects.
Keith said: “I was absolutely mortified when I first saw the destruction that the vandals had
caused. Although I have asked around, nobody seems to have any information about the
incident so there seems to be little that we can do. I will be speaking to my fellow priests at
La Siesta Church, along with the President and Chairman of the Torrevieja RBL branch to see
how we can stop it from happening again.”