Wolverhampton war memorial has new home after eBay outrage

The bronze plaque that originated from Cable Street Mills factory in Wolverhampton and dedicated to soldiers from the city was put up for sale for £400 on ebay causing an outcry from veterans who demanded it was taken off the market.

Wolverhampton City Council councillor Ian Claymore, who used to work at the factory, described the auction as sacrilege.

There had been fears it may be sold for scrap. The city council made numerous appeals for the mystery owner, who claimed he salvaged it from a skip in Merridale, to come forward with the plaque.

And last week it was handed to Wednesfield and Woodend Royal British Legion. It will now be repaired and fixed to the wall in the bar area.

John Bolger, aged 60, who is the club's secretary said: "I'm happy to see it stay in Wolverhampton. Ian Moore, who is a secretary here also, was contacted by the War Memorial Trust who said that the owner wanted to donate it. He turned up on Thursday morning with it but there was some damage to it. We will be applying for a grant for the work to be carried out and it will go in the club along with the memorial from Ever Ready GB Ltd of Park Lane and James Gibbons, which was also in Wolverhampton"

Mr Bolger of Vicarage Road, Wednesfield, also criticised the decision by the memorial's former owner to put it up for sale, he said: "The names on this plaque fought for the world we live in today and that goes for all the those that are fighting even to this very day.

"Having something so sensitive like a war memorial for sale on the internet is de-facing our history."