Theft of Normandy Scottish piper statue sparks sadness ahead of D-Day commemorations
The statue, stolen from the D-Day memorial site, weighed 600 kilograms and stood 2.2 metres tall
The Scottish piper statue in Bréville-les-Monts, once standing in tribute to the 51st Highland Division, now missing from its memorial site
Mairie Bréville-les-Monts
A bronze statue of a Scottish piper, commemorating the 51st Highland Infantry Division, has been stolen in Bréville-les-Monts, in the Calvados department of Normandy, just days before the D-Day commemorations.
The disappearance was reported by the mairie of Bréville-les-Monts in a Facebook post, which described the incident as a “shameful act” and expressed deep sadness at the loss of a monument dedicated to the memory of soldiers who fought in the area during the Second World War.
“It is with great sadness that we discovered this morning the disappearance of the statue of the bagpiper, 51st Highland Infantry Division.” the mairie said.
Jean-Marc Paiola, mayor of Bréville-les-Monts, has filed a police report, and an appeal has been made for any witnesses to come forward.
The historical significance behind the statue
The stolen statue depicted a Scottish bagpiper and formed part of a memorial to the 51st Highland Infantry Division, which took part in the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
The Division later fought in the Orne sector after the D-Day landings. The memorial is dedicated to the fierce fighting around Bréville-les-Monts, a strategically important position during the Battle of Normandy.
The bronze sculpture stood 2.2 metres tall and weighed approximately 600 kilograms. It was located near the southern edge of Bréville-les-Monts, along the D37 road, close to other memorial sites linked to the fighting in the Bois des Monts area.
Its theft, believed to have taken place during the night of May 28–29, has shocked the local community.
“How can anyone desecrate a place of remembrance that pays tribute to all those who lost their lives for freedom?” Mr Paiola said, reported in Ouest-France.
An investigation is currently under way, with no clear leads at this stage. Local authorities have suggested the statue may have been stolen for its bronze.
Plans are already being considered to replace the monument, possibly with a replica, so that the site of remembrance can continue to honour the fallen.
As for the commemoration set to take place on June 5, a photo panel may be used to celebrate the memory of this period.
