A CHURCH needs help raising £3,500 to repair a World War I memorial in time for Armistice Day on November 11.

As reported in the Daily Echo on Tuesday, the stone cross memorial in the Peace Garden at St James’ Church in Pokesdown was vandalised at the weekend.

A group of youths were reportedly climbing on the 97-year-old monument to over 60 men who sacrificed their lives during the war. In doing so, they broke off the top of the cross – leaving the church with an expensive repair bill.

The incident was reported to police, and CCTV footage capturing the youths in the act will be passed onto officers investigating the matter.

Reverend John Pares, priest in charge of St James’ Church, said he was shocked to discover the damage to the memorial on Sunday morning.

He is eager to raise the funds to repair the cross in time for Remembrance Sunday.

“We’ve already been surprised by people’s generosity,” he said.

“On November 11 we’re planning to remember 66 men who left Pokesdown for war in 1914 and didn’t return.

“That’s why repairing this memorial is really important to us. It was a real shock to find the cross had been damaged on Sunday morning.”

This year marks the centenary of the end of World War I, and the church is planning a special service.

The war memorial was built by Hoare Banks, who will also be undertaking the repair work. The monument was unveiled on Sunday, January 9, 1921, by local MP Lt Col Henry Page Croft.

It commemorates 66 local men who fought in the war. Some fought in the Battle of Coronel while others lost their lives during the first Battle of Ypres in 1914.

On its website, St James’ Church says: “The people of the parish of St James went to war enthusiastically, proud to do their patriotic duty, and endured stoically the horrors and hardships of total war. They will forever deserve our thanks, our respect and, most of all, our remembrance.”

A fundraising page was set up last month to raise £500 for refurbishing and replanting the area around the memorial.

More than £600 has since been raised, with more donations being made since the memorial was vandalised.

Anthony Allen, who organised the crowdfunding efforts, is now asking for donations towards repairing the memorial.

Visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lestweforgetpokesdown for further details or to make a donation.