'Scumbags!' Outrage after Remembrance Day tribute stolen as communities prepare to honour the fallen
Last updated 7th Nov 2026
A community with centuries-old links to the Armed Forces has been left “gutted beyond words” after a tribute to those who lost their lives in conflicts around the world was stolen ahead of Remembrance Day.
The beautifully-knitted postbox topper, depicting uniformed personnel, had been displayed on Main Street in Spittal - just a short distance from Berwick Barracks.
Spittal Improvement Trust took to social media to report the disappearance this morning (Saturday), describing those responsible as “scumbags”.
It said: “It's sad that there are individuals with so little respect for what it represents.”
The theft is believed to have happened sometime between yesterday and today, with knitted poppies spotted lying on the ground by a nearby play park.
The post prompted an angry reaction from local residents. One said: “Dreadful there is no respect for any one or anything these days.”
Another added: “That’s shocking. They were so lovely too.” A third replied: “That’s terrible; a lot of work went into knitting it.”
Spittal Improvement Trust has appealed to anyone who comes across the missing topper, or knows where it may have been left, to get in touch.
The incident comes as communities across Scotland prepare to mark Remembrance Sunday, with services taking place at war memorials in towns and villages across the country.
Remembrance events are also taking place across the Borders, including a special display at Dryburgh Abbey, where more than 3,000 handmade poppies created by local schoolchildren are being displayed.
Now in its third year, the display has been created through workshops involving pupils from schools across the Borders, who transformed recycled plastic bottles into poppies.
The flowers have been spread across the abbey's wildflower meadow, with pupils from Galashiels Academy helping to plant some of them alongside Historic Environment Scotland staff.
The display can be viewed free of charge until Monday, November 16th.
Elsewhere, Scotland's first National Festival of Remembrance is taking place at Edinburgh's Usher Hall this evening, ahead of tomorrow's services.
The concert will bring together military bands, musicians and singers to honour those who've lost their lives in service.
Leanne Bonner, from Poppyscotland, said: “Remembrance is incredibly personal. It's about people and their families and it's about making sure that the sacrifices made by so many is never forgotten.”
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