In the face of increasing bronze thefts this year the War Memorials Trust, formerly Friends of War Memorials, has launched a campaign with SmartWater to mark war memorials with the aim of making them less of a target as the risk of detection and arrest increases.
 
The scheme, which is called 'In Memoriam 2014', is supported by the Royal British Legion and the Cadet Forces, using the forthcoming centenary of World War I to help communities preserve their war memorial heritage.
 
SmartWater, a crime prevention fluid, which is being made available at no charge, will not only make memorials uniquely identifiable, it also offers robust traceability should a theft occur. It is a high temperature solution that will withstand burning and melting making it harder for criminals to dispose of stolen metals.
 
There are thought to be approximately 100,000 war memorials in the British Isles ranging from crosses, to bridges, to buildings, to fabric and fittings within churches. In Memoriam 2014 aims to encourage local communities and youth groups to identify and get involved with war memorials.
 
Frances Moreton, director of War Memorials Trust, was quoted in the Sunday Express on November 6:
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Sunday November 6,2011
By James Murray
Stolen bronze plaques from war memorials bearing the names of the nation's lost heroes are being offered for sale at auctions and on the internet. The sickening trade brings a sinister tone to the growing scandal of war memorial thefts, which have caused outrage as the country prepares to mark Remembrance Day.
 
Now the War Memorials Trust is calling for action to stop anything from war memorials from being traded or sold. Frances Moreton, its director, said that although it has no hard evidence that items have been stolen, there is legitimate concern over the sales.
 
She said, "Unfortunately it is increasingly the case that war memorials are being offered for sale at, for example, auctions, on internet auction sites, at architectural salvage yards or in antique shops. Buying and selling war memorials creates a market value for such items which could lead to more theft of such pieces for commercial gain."
 
She said eBay had agreed to remove items from sale when they first appeared four years ago.
However she added: "We have mixed results contacting sellers. Some immediately give memorials to us and apologise for any offence caused. Others are more belligerent."
 
Items offered for sale on the internet include plaques from memorials to fallen heroes at Aberdeen, Wigan, Belfast and London. Labour's Graham Jones is one of several MPs campaigning for stiffer sentences for metal thieves and has tabled a 10-minute debate in the Commons for November 15.
 
Last night he said: "These people are stealing the UK's past and we need to take strong steps to combat them. The Theft Act needs amending so they will face stiffer sentences."
 
Police say a 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the notorious theft last month of a bronze statue of a First World War soldier. It is believed to be worth £10,000 and was taken from the grounds of the Royal British Legion in Tidworth, Wiltshire.
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