A casting of the citation First World War hero William Merrified received when he was awarded the British Empire's highest military honour appears to have been purloined by vandals.
SooToday noticed the missing metal plate this week and contacted Royal Canadian Legion Branch 25, which was previously unaware of the theft but was able to confirm that it is missing.
"This is very disgraceful and frustrating," said Pierre Breckenridge, Branch 25 president.
"We have been doing a restoration project on the main cenotaph but not the Merrifield standalone structure," said Breckenridge.
The Merrifield citation stood on the courtyard facing the main Cenotaph where the city's war dead are commemorated.
Merrifield was a highly decorated local war hero, and the only Sault veteran to ever be awarded the Victoria Cross, which he earned by single-handedly taking out a pair of machine gun posts during the 1918 Battle of the Canal du Nord.
The missing top plate was a casting of Merrifield's Victoria Cross citation, which reads:
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during the attack near Abancourt on the 1st October, 1918. When his men were held up by an intense fire from two machine-gun emplacements, he attacked them both single-handed. Dashing from shell-hole to shell-hole he killed the occupants of the first post, and, although wounded, continued to attack the second post, and with a bomb killed the occupants. He refused to be evacuated, and led his platoon until again severely wounded. Sjt. Merrifield has served with exceptional distinction on many former occasions, and throughout the action of the 1st October showed the highest qualities of valour and leadership.
"It's not replaceable. We can get a replica, but it's not the same," said Breckenridge.
The Branch 25 president said his hope now is that the person who took it, brings it back.
"It's of little value to anyone, other than to the citizens and the community and the Merrifield family," said Breckenridge.
Likewise, if anyone sees the casting or knows where it is, Breckenridge urges them to come forward.
"If they want to do it anonymously, I'm fine with that," he said.