All 19 Stolen WWI Memorial Plaques Recovered in Hobart
All 19 bronze plaques stolen from a World War I memorial in Hobart have been recovered, bringing relief to the local community.
The plaques, which commemorate individual soldiers and nurses who died in the war, were discovered missing by council workers last week. Their disappearance triggered a strong emotional response from veterans’ groups and the public.
John Wadsley, president of the Friends of Soldiers Memorial Avenue, said he was deeply moved upon learning of their recovery over the weekend.
“They each represent an individual soldier or nurse, and that’s why we were so gutted by the theft,” he said.
Tasmania Police Inspector Andrew Keen said the plaques were found inside a bag near the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry in Rosny Park on Hobart’s eastern shore. A member of the public alerted police to the find on Sunday.
Inspector Keen confirmed that one line of inquiry is whether the individual who reported the find may have been involved in the theft.
“That’s certainly a lead we’ll be following up — it’s possible they panicked or had a change of heart,” he said.
“We’re just really pleased we can return the plaques to the community.”
Although early reports suggested 21 plaques were missing, police have now confirmed the actual number is 19. Some of the plaques were damaged, and will need to be recast.
Mr Wadsley explained that each new plaque costs around $600 to produce, yet the scrap metal value of a single plaque is only $5 to $7.
“I think the people who did this realised that they’re basically worthless in monetary terms — but they mean so much more to the families,” he said.
Restoring the damaged plaques could take several months, and Mr Wadsley added that the group is also reviewing how best to protect the memorial site going forward.
“We’ve got a lot of work ahead to ensure the avenue remains safe.”
Tasmania Police are still appealing for information, particularly from anyone who may have seen someone carrying a hessian bag near the Queens Domain or on the eastern shore around the time of the theft.
