Shocking graffiti attack on Anzac war graves

The war graves have been defaced with spray paint at a London cemetery. Photo: @CllrJanePalmer / Twitter

Anzac war graves dedicated to New Zealand soldiers who died in the First World War have been defaced with spray paint at a London cemetery.

Local councillor Jane Palmer was moved to tears when she discovered the vandalism yesterday at Harefield churchyard in Hillingdon, west London.

She took photos of the graffiti attack and reported it to police.

Harefield ANZAC graves desecrated for second time this yearhttps://t.co/N3ZyllE2mS pic.twitter.com/8CPwkFKe4x

— Uxbridge Gazette (@UxbridgeGazette) November 22, 2015

There are 120 First World War graves at Harefield Park (St. Mary) Churchyard for Kiwi and mainly Australian troops who died at the nearby No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital.

Each grave is marked by scroll shaped headstones, chosen by the staff and patients at the hospital.

"In tears this morning at this desecration," Ms Palmer wrote as she posted photographs of the desecration on social media yesterday.

The Met Police has asked for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

It is the second such incident this year after a memorial in the cemetery was sprayed with paint and the Australian flagpole cut into on the eve of the Gallipoli centenary, the Mirror reported.

Ms Palmer said she has been received offers to help clean the headstones, and though she has been "touched by your kindness" the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is taking up the task.