The $1.5 million tribute to fallen Highlanders

A bronze monument to British soldiers killed during the liberation of France has been stolen, a week before D-Day anniversary commemorations. The one-tonne statue of a piper in the 51st Highland Division during the Second World War at Bréville-les-Monts, north of Caen,vanished on Friday.

According to the source, the statue was erected some 15 years ago in the grounds of the Château St Come, where 51st Highlanders fought alongside elements of the 6th Airborne Division, against German troops .

The 51st Highlanders mainly belonging to the 5th Battalion of the Black Watch Regiment, lost 110 men in just two days as they helped secure the bridgehead across the River Orne. The lane leading up to the château became so dangerous that it was known as 'Death Alley'.

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The theft of the statue has sparked a criminal investigation, as French police try to find the statue, and bring the thieves to justice.. An early theory is that scrap metal dealers intended to smash the statue to pieces, so as to sell off the bronze.

The site is close to Pegasus Bridge, the memorial to British paras who landed in France in gliders, before later being supported by troops who arrived from the invasion beaches.

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The source reports that the statue was reported missing early on Friday morning - it was forced off its plinth, and clearly loaded on to a vehicle.. However, the identity of the buyer remains unknown.

The theft of the statue has sparked a wider debate about the value of historical monuments, and the importaance of preserving the memories of those who fought and died in the Second World War.

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The theft of the statue has also raised questions about the lack of security measures in place to protect historical monuments. according to the source, the site is not well-guarded, and the statue was left unattended for long periods of time.

The theft of the statue is a stark reminder of the importance of protecting our cultural heritage, and the need for greater security measures to be put in place to prevent such incidents in the future.

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The source reports that the statue was erected some 15 years ago, and that it was a tribute to Scottish infantrymen who had stormed on to Juno Beach, in Normandy, on June 6th 1944, before dying in a fierce fire fight a few days later.

According to the source, the statue was a significant investment, and that it was valued at $1.5 million. However, the source does not provide any information on how the staue was funded, or who was responsible for its maintenance.