‘Please bring them back’: Plaques honouring First World War soldiers stolen from cemetery

Nearly a dozen plaques honouring Edmonton soldiers who died during the First World War have been stolen from a cemetery. CTV News Edmonton's Nav Sangha reports.

Nearly a dozen plaques honouring Edmonton soldiers who died during the First World War have been stolen from a cemetery in Edmonton.

“These plaques represented their lost loved one and this is all they had,” Edmonton Regiment Museum historian Joe MacDonald said of the plaques.

The plaques were placed here a century ago but now some have been stolen.

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MacDonald says 11 have gone missing in the last few weeks.

The most recent theft was from a gravesite for a father and son lost at war.

MacDonald carries the son, Robert Belcher’s, picture and medals.

“During his first action back it happened to be the bloodiest day of the war and unfortunately Robert Belcher found himself in the front wave and he was gunned down by machine gun fire.”

The thief or thieves have been selling the plaques, according to MacDonald, several showing up in antique stores and flea markets.

“Whatever it’s worth in bronze, it’s worth so much more historically, especially to the family but now more and more so to the city of Edmonton.”

He says thefts of historical items have been on the rise. Just last week a statue of Emily Murphy and its plaques vanished from the Edmonton park named after her.

“What has been stolen here is a bond and that memory of those soldiers that sacrificed everything so we can be as we do.”

For those behind the thefts, MacDonald has one plea.

“Please bring them back to where they belong. Not only is it for the families, but it’s for all of Edmonton, all of Alberta and all of Canada.”