Sculptor of D-Day memorial statue stolen from French village hits out at 'despicable' crime

The sculptor of a D-Day memorial statue stolen from northern France has blasted its theft as "despicable".

Alan Herriot says the theft of a famous Highland Piper memorial, a tribute to the 51st Highland Division, in Normandy has left veterans' families heartbroken.

The memorial, in the commune of Bréville-les-Monts, just north of the city of Caen, was dedicated to Scottish infantrymen who landed on the shores of northern France on D-Day.

Now Mr Herriot, a renowned sculptor from Penicuik, Midlothian, has spoken of his heartbreak about the disappearance of the memorial.

The 74-year-old told GB News: "It's a tragic thing, and it really cuts deep.

"At the end of the week, there would have been hundreds of people visiting the memorial, remembering their grandfathers and what they did during the Second World War, and now the statue isn't there...it's despicable."

Mr Herriot, who has been sculpting since 1969, admitted the statue is most likely to have been destroyed and sold for scrap.

He added: "There is almost no question about it that they won't find the piper. It'll have been broken up long ago, or maybe even melted down by now. These are professional thieves.

"If the people that had stolen this were actually caught, which is doubtful, we should send them to Ukraine and let them fight, and if they are killed, then there is no loss, but if they survive, they will understand the reasons why these memorials are there."

Mr Herriot told GB News how he had been involved with the British veteran community, having designed three pieces for the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire, including The Royal Army Medical Corp memorial.

The memorial in Bréville-les-Monts, was commissioned by the Division Trust, organised by 2nd Battalion London Scottish Regiment veteran Dr Tom Renouf MBE, who died in June 2016, aged 91.

The sculptor said: "Tom really looked after the veterans. Over the years [he] took many veterans over to Normandy for various celebrations and visiting various towns that they had liberated.

He added: "[Tom] would be spinning in his grave, for God's sake...He died a few years ago and was awarded the MBE literally on his deathbed. He should have been knighted long before then."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Lancaster bomber sculpture 'bigger than the Angel of the North' pays tribute to fallen heroes
• Sycamore Gap tree will be turned into 'people's tree' sound sculpture
• Millionaires lose battle to block sculpture tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Officials in Bréville-les-Monts confirmed a report had been filed with the police and have issued a plea for anyone who saw or heard anything to contact the city hall.

British and French officials were due to gather around the sculpture next weekend to mark the 82nd anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Mr Herriot added: "It's a huge disappointment for the people in the living nearby in the villages.

"There was an old fella that looked after this particular memorial, and was delighted delighted to be wearing the kilt. He loved to wear his kilt, and just before the ceremonies this week, he would have been up at the memorial making sure that everything was spic and span for the Saturday when most people will be there.

"The locals have taken a great pride, and they've looked after the piece since it was actually unveiled all those years ago."

Now, Mr Herriot announced plans to fundraise for a replacement statue, having received a quote from a foundry to replace it.

Teams would scan an identical statue at the House of Bruar in Perthshire and then print it in sections, before making the moulds and then casting it into bronze."

He told GB News: "They've invested recently in 3D printers, but they're enormous, very large. They now have the capability of printing really large-scale pieces.

"I will make sure that the statue is put back if it's possible. But we have to strike while the iron is hot."

"Every contribution, however small, brings us closer to restoring this place of remembrance."

To donate to their fundraiser, click here.