Very sad, there is no respect any more

The War Memorial at the top of Third Street is still not fixed, as Ekurhuleni Metro had promised in April this year.

The decline of this prominent place in Springs was an interesting topic of discussion on the Facebook page of Springs – a History of a Gold Town.

According to this website this memorial was opened in 1965 as a tribute to the fallen men of the great wars.

The bronze rifle was stolen in the late 1990s and the dome’s copper covering is now being stripped off bit by bit.

The copper plates with the war heroes’ names are also slowly disappearing, before the parts of the copper strips were also stolen.

Currently this memorial is fenced off and the garden is non-existent.

The Addie reported about the state of the memorial during March and April this year, when Ekurhuleni Metro promised that this place of remembrance would not be demolished, but restored.

To date nothing has been done.

Some comments from the Facebook page of Springs – a History of a Gold Town were:

•  Gail Burlison: My father fought tooth and nail to get the memorial beautified in 1959. If he had to see it now it would break his heart. We, as a family, were so proud to see how much respect he, as an ex-serviceman, got from all over the country and letters he received from fellow servicemen. There is no respect any more for the great men who fought and gave their lives for their country.
• Johnny Abreu Very sad. No more respect.
•  Zandra Riddle: We live in a country that has no respect for heritage.
•  Beulah Bacon: It is so sad to see Springs today.
• Sharron Janine Dirksen Burger: So very sad, as this is totally a lawless society.
•  Michael du Toit: I would that Moths, or whoever built the memorial, look at re-establishing something in the enclosures of Jack Ellis Park where it will again be possible to have retreat ceremonies on remembrance days. Particularly if the name plaques are still around.
• Graeme Dewe: The same happens to war memorials in the UK. A recent World War 1 memorial had its bronze plaque stolen within 24 hours of it being unveiled.
• Keith Rostron: To all those who served, we respect you, unfortunately some don’t have the same thoughts or respect for what this wonderful monument represents.
• Sue Potgieter: There were many marches to here to lay wreaths, also with a Scottish band. Good days.
• Naomi Ceronio: It was so beautiful when I was a child. Sad what is happening. That is what happens when you have no respect for yourself – then it is impossible to have respect for other people, let alone the property of others!
• Bronwyn Ansley: I remember going there as a little girl and admiring everything. So sad to see what it has become.
• Louis F Zehmke: Daar was ‘n groot take-aways oorkant waar ek en Johann ons Russian roll en Fanta gekoop en onder die koel koepeldak verslind het voor ons die pad aanvat huistoe. En raai wat? Nog voor jy by die kommando is het jy al ‘n lift gehad. Good old days.
• n Val Ellis Reid Cooper: How terribly sad to see what has happened to all the hard work and dedication people went to to create this war memorial.
• n Orpa Glover: So disgusting because nothing is sacred any more.
• n Marko Miladinovic: I don’t even think the thieves know what the place is for. They are more tied up in their own lives than worrying or caring about anyone before their existence.
• n Anne Greyling: My late dad helped build that monument.