Pro-Palestinian activists defaced a beloved statue of Sir Winston Churchill (Image: Getty)
D-Day hero Henry Rice told of his “hatred” for vandals responsible for defacing wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill’s statue in the heart of Westminster. The 12ft monument in Parliament Square, which honours the nation’s wartime leader, was defaced with “Zionist war criminal” and other graffiti including a provocative red triangle symbol used by Hamas terrorists.
The despoiling of the sculpture has angered veterans because it tarnishes his memory and those who sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of freedom. Speaking on his 100th birthday, Normandy lionheart Henry, who served with the Royal Navy during the invasion of Nazi-held Europe in June 1944, said: “No words can describe the hatred I have for these people.
“My generation gave their all so they could live in a free world today. For this act they would have been subjected to indescribable punishment, which sadly I am beginning to think they deserve.”
WW2 vet Henry Rice celebrates his 100th birthday (Image: Humphrey Nemar / Daily Express)
His condemnation was echoed by Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell, 104, who flew Mosquito Bombers during daring raids over Germany, said: “Churchill guided and galvanised the nation at our time of greatest need during the Second World War. I know – I fought and lived through it. We were fighting for our very survival.
“The Nazis were evil people and intent on our total subjugation. They made no secret of their fanaticism to impose a brutally oppressive totalitarian regime on our men, our women, our children. Their treatment of the Jews was totally abhorrent and repugnant.
“I wonder whether these protesters have thought about the consequences of the Second World War had we not won? Had we lost the war, these people would not be around today with the freedoms we enjoy.”
Speaking to the Express from his care home, Royal Navy warrior John King, 101, from Dagenham, who was conscripted in April 1943 aged 18, said: “Churchill once said, ‘Never was so much owed by so many to so few.’ I lived through that war, and I saw what those words meant.
“To see his statue in London defaced… it makes me sick. That statue is a reminder of the courage and sacrifice of so many. To see it treated like that is heartbreaking.”
A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. The Metropolitan Police said he had been further arrested on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action, which is a proscribed organisation, under the Terrorism Act and remains in custody. Other phrases daubed in red paint on the bronze sculpture read “Stop the Genocide”, “Free Palestine”, “Never again is Now” and “Globalise the Intifada”.
In June 1944, braveheart Don Turrell, 100, was a Corporal with The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and sailed across the Channel as part of the invading Allied armada. He said: “At my age, having seen war up close and been wounded in Normandy I find this very sad. Statues like Churchill’s stand for the strength and sacrifice of those who fought and those who never came home. We may all have different views, but we should never forget the price that was paid for the freedoms we enjoy today.”
*** Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings. ***
Former Mosquito pilot Colin Bell expressed his anger at vandalism (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster / Daily Express)
Churchill’s statue was created by Ivor Roberts-Jones and unveiled in 1973 by the former prime minister’s wife Lady Clementine Churchill. In a 2002 poll, Churchill was voted the Greatest Briton of all time in recognition for his leadership during the Second World War.
Lord Roberts, the acclaimed historian and Churchill biographer, said: “This was a very dark act of antisemitism, not just vandalism. Churchill was indeed a proud Zionist who supported the creation of Israel, a tiny slip of land where Jews could be safe after thousands of years of murderous persecution.”
A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The red triangle is a symbol used by Hamas over the past several years to delineate targets for violence and by activists worldwide to show solidarity with the terrorist group and support for its methods and objectives. This vandalism underscores how vile and unpatriotic these extremists are. They don’t just hate Jews: they hate Britain.”
A Number 10 spokesman said: “It’s obviously a disgrace. It’s completely abhorrent. Churchill was a great Briton. This Government will always stand up for our values and the perpetrator must be held to account. We’re glad the police have made an arrest.”
Soldiers Ken Hay, 100, and Mervyn Kersh, 101, who were also part of the D-Day landings, joined family and friends at a glittering bash to pay tribute to hero Henry’s lifetime of service. Signalman Henry served aboard HMS Eastway off Juno Beach ferrying soldiers and supplies to the invasion beaches. Troops from the UK, US, Canada, and France attacked German forces on the coast of northern France on June 6, 1944 known as D-Day.
It was the largest military naval, air and land operation ever attempted and marked the start of the campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied north-west Europe. Henry from Cranleigh, Surrey, was awarded the Legion d’honneur from the French government for his service and returns to France each year with the Spirit of Normandy Trust.
The 12ft bronze sculpture was daubed in vile anti-Israeli graffiti (Image: Getty)
But he baulks at being called a hero, saying: “Hero? Not me. The heroes are the brave boys we return each year to honour and remember. We must never forget their sacrifice. I have honestly found that when you talk to 10, 12, 14-year-old children in this country I don’t think some of them know (about D-Day).
“I think it’s important. This world is dangerous at the moment. If those children grow up into adults and know what this is all about, collectively they can go to politicians, Russians can go to Putin and say ‘Oi, we’ve had all this before. We don’t want it. Stop it, please’.”
Henry, born in Battersea, south east London, joined the Senior Service aged 17 in 1943 and served until 1947.
He then worked for the Orient Shipping Line and later Cunard until he met his future wife Gwen who issued him with an ultimatum: “It’s me or the sea.”
They wed in 1951 and were married for 59 years until her death in 2011. The couple had two children Stuart and Ian who died in 2001.Henry has three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
He later joined the fire service and was one of the first men called to what was thought to have been a catastrophic gas explosion at a pub in Guildford on October 5, 1974.
Get More of Our News on Google
Set Daily Express as a ‘Preferred Source’ to get quicker access to the news you value.
Henry arrived at the Horse and Groom pub to find a scene of carnage which, after a bomb exploded at the nearby Seven Stars pub, was caused by an IRA attack which killed four off-duty British soldiers and one civilian.
He was played into his birthday bash at Cranleigh Golf & Country Club by the Jedburgh Pipe Band and tomorrow celebrates his sister Ivy Haskins’ 87th birthday
