eBay war memorial is donated back to Wolverhampton City Council
A memorial to soldiers from Wolverhampton who died in the First World War that was put up for sale on ebay is set to be donated to council chiefs after the mystery seller came forward.
The 29-year-old, who refuses to give his name, sparked outrage when he listed the plaque on ebay for £400. But he has now offered to donate the brass memorial to Wolverhampton City Council.
It is hoped it will be handed over in the coming days.
It originates from the city's Cable Street Mills factory and, following the site's closure in 1996, was given to the Wolverhampton branch of the Royal British Legion.
Bosses then handed it to the United Services Club in Humber Road, Merridale. The club was later sold, and planning permission was granted to turn it into a mosque.
The man, from Bushbury, says he was working on the mosque when he found the plaque in a skip.
The ebay sale was condemned by the War Memorial Trust and Wolverhampton councillor Ian Claymore described it as "sacrilege".
The new owner added: "I have been made to look like a bad guy but no-one was bothered about the plaque before. Now I realise what it means to the city I want to donate it to the council for them to look after it."
However, Javed Mohammed, spokesman for the Tayyaba Mosque said: "Tayyaba Mosque absolutely deny that the memorial plaque was left in a skip. It had been stored, with care, for the past 18 months."
