Twelve Islamic militants used sledgehammers and crowbars to smash graves of British war heroes in a mindless rampage in Aden, Yemen
St Joseph Church was also set on fire and ransacked
GRAVES and monuments to fallen British servicemen were smashed in a mindless rampage by Islamic militants.
The graves of children were also targeted as the al-Qaeda thugs left a trail of destruction in the former British colony of Aden, Yemen.
The attack at the Hafoon Cemetery in Maala was launched by 12 balaclava-clad, gun-toting extremists who used sledgehammers and crowbars to destroy 1,927 graves.
St Joseph Church, which overlooks the graveyard, was also set on fire and ransacked.
The rampage in the port city of Aden took place on December 12, 2015 but, 18 months on, nothing has been done to repair the damage.
It took place as civil war raged, allowing al-Qaeda and ISIS factions to launch strikes amid the chaos.
The graves include those of military personnel who served with Britain’s forces in the colony from 1839 to 1967.
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Our images of the destruction were taken by Australian peace negotiator Dominic Ryan, 46.
He said: “I would hope that these pictures might initiate a response to get people to come here and restore the cemetery.”
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission said it was unable to get in and repair the damage because of the ongoing turmoil in Yemen.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer said: “The people who did it will never know the sort of qualities and principles that those men fought for and died for.”
'An insult to us all'
ONE of the desecrated graves is that of Royal Navy Reserve Francis Fantham, who died at just 22 in June 1940.
The granite headstone, with an engraved naval anchor and a cross, lies smashed amid the rubble.
It shows that the Ordinary Seaman, who died from an unspecified illness, served on HMS Carlisle.
His nephew, Derek Forrester, 68, of Swanley, Kent, said: “It’s an appalling act of vandalism and shows complete disregard for all those buried there.”
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