Shropshire Star

Yobs trash memorial garden to Telford war hero

A garden created to remember a Telford war hero killed in Afghanistan has been trashed by yobs who trampled flowers and stole ornaments.

Published
Last updated
Damian Davies

Today the family of Marine Damian Davies appealed for help in finding those responsible for the vandalism.

Damian’s mother Maddie Davies, son Matthew Davies and wife Joanne Corfield at the memorial garden which was vandalised

The memory garden had been created by Ken and Maddison Davies.

It provided them comfort and the chance to remember Damian, who was killed by a suspected suicide bomber in Helmand Province in December 2008.

But the couple, of Wrockwardine Wood, Telford, awoke to find the garden badly damaged and a number of ornaments with sentimental value gone.

Damien's widow Joanne Corfield said: "They've completely desecrated the area.

Damian Davies with his son Matthew

"We lost Damien back in 2008 and the summer after that, his parents built the memorial garden outside their house.

"Over the years, they've added to it. They've put a lot of time and money and made it a really nice area with a bench. It was somewhere for them to go to reflect.

"They got up to the devastation, and it really upset them. They live in a small, tight-knit community. It's hurt them that someone has done all of this to what is obviously a memorial."

The attack on the garden is believed to have happened late on Tuesday night or early last Wednesday morning.

Those responsible not only damaged the garden and stole ornaments but also emptied the contents of a bin throughout the area.

Mrs Corfield said: "I can't believe anybody would have so little respect. It is quite obvious what the garden was – I hope they're hanging their heads in shame."

Among the items stolen were three statues of a lion, Hercules and an angel. Flowers that had grown there for years had been trampled and Mr Davies's parents were left to pick up the rubbish that had been strewn in the garden.

"It's hard to think someone would go out of their way to do something like this of an evening," Mrs Corfield said.

"They've literally emptied their bin on the lawn – I'm presuming they've put the statues inside.

"Whether it's pre-emptive or not, we don't know. I was thinking if it was metal, they could have sold them for scrap, but they're stone. It's just daft."

But out of the distress caused, came kindness.The power of social media brought people together in an effort to restore the garden to its former glory.

Today Damian’s loved-ones spoke of their devastation and appealed for help in finding those responsible. They also thanked people in the area for helping to put the garden back together.

Damian’s widow Joanne Corfield said the damage amounted to a desecration of an area that is so important to the loved ones of Damian.

Mrs Corfield said: “Ken and Maddie like people to remember Damian. He was a local lad, he was loved by so many people. They tend to shy away from big acts of remembrance, but the garden was just their quiet place they could go.

“They live up a really quiet, little road. You can’t get through, and to the side is this lovely little area that they had converted. There’s a flag, a bench, lots of wild flowers and poppies.

“His parents have taken a lot of pleasure in it over the years. On Damian’s birthday they would add a statue to it or something – it’s held a special place for them."

Mrs Corfield said, out of all the devastation, Damien’s family have been handed a ray of hope. The response of people in the area has restored their faith in human nature. A Facebook message brought dozens of people together with an aim of restoring the memorial garden.

“People have come forward and been so helpful,” Mrs Corfield said. “Everybody is outraged on their behalf. They really do want to help – they want to show that not everybody is so horrible.

“There’s a fundraising page being set up now, so hopefully we can collect a bit of money and get it all back on there.

“I could not believe the reaction. I think Maddie has taken from it especially. There’s so many lovely people out there. It makes you feel better knowing there are more like that than there are the people who trashed it.”

Royal Marine Damian Davies was with the Commando Logistics Regiment, but was killed by a suspected 13-year-old suicide bomber in 2008. He left behind his wife and their 18-month-old son, Matthew and his funeral was held on Christmas Eve.

Now, more than eight years on, Mrs Corfield has attempted to rebuild her life and remarried in 2014.

She has spoken of how it has taken her years to find the strength go out and socialise. She explained how she attends local remembrance parades, such as at St George’s Church in Telford where Damian’s ashes are interred, but avoids national events because she continues to find them too emotionally draining.

Anyone with information about the damage should call West Mercia Police on 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org