Fairlfield RSL: Officials furious after man arrested for allegedly stealing war memorial plaques

Officials are furious after a man allegedly vandalised and stole a range of sacred war memorial plaques from the grounds of one of Australia’s biggest RSL clubs.

On the eve of Remembrance Day, a 34-year-old man has engaged in one of the worst kinds of thievery showing complete disrespect for Australia’s returned servicemen and women.

A total of seven plaques commemorating soldiers who fought in WWI were stolen from Fairfield RSL club in the early hours of Friday morning before police commenced a pursuit resulting in the offender’s arrest.

Following the theft, police spotted a Toyota sedan driving dangerously along Horsley Drive in Fairfield shortly before 2am.

When the driver failed to stop, police initiated a pursuit, which ended moments later as the vehicle crashed into a shopfront at The Boulevarde in Fairfield Heights, and caught fire.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, while paramedics treated the driver, a 34-year-old man, at the scene.

He was then transported to Liverpool Hospital under police guard.

Police established a crime scene and searched the vehicle, uncovering the brass plaques which have been seized for examination.

Fairfield RSL sub-branch President Paul Bryant told the Daily Telegraph the incident was “very disappointing”.

“In total seven plaques were stolen,” he said.

“The plaques that were taken list the 192 men from Fairfield that served during WW1, 17 of whom were killed in action, most were wounded.”

Mr Bryant said the thefts, while devastating, would not impact the Sub-Branch’s Remembrance Day plans.

Police inquiries into the incident are ongoing, and no charges have yet been laid.