A number of war graves have been destroyed by vandals in the run-up to the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in an act of “callous thoughtlessness”.

Some had been specially provided to the Hirst Wood burial ground in Shipley, Bradford, by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Among the graves damaged was that of Arthur Sheard, a First World War driver from Saltaire who died in May 1918 at Morton Banks Military Hospital in Keighley.

He was buried with his four-year-old daughter, who died just two days after him.

Posting about the incident via their Facebook page, the Hirst Wood Regeneration Group said: “Sad to report that a number of gravestones in Hirst Wood Cemetery have been smashed.

“It is impossible to understand the callous thoughtlessness of those who did this.

“Do they boast to their friends and relations that they managed to smash gravestones?

“What possible satisfaction can they get from such a mindless act?”

West Yorkshire Police believe the vandalism was carried out on Monday or Tuesday, with some locals discovering it on Thursday, the D-Day anniversary itself.

Detective Inspector Amanda Middleton said: “The gravestones were destroyed in what was a mindless act of destruction and I would urge anyone with any information to come forward and speak to the police.

“High visibility reassurance patrols have been stepped up in the area whilst officers continue with their inquiries.”

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