Wilma Spence's father's grave in Gaza, a poignant reminder of his sacrifice, has been destroyed by the Israel Defense Forces. Amidst her grief and anger, she seeks answers and justice. The inscription on the now-ruined tombstone reads, 'Fighting for those who love him, our darling daddy died.'
Wilma, overcome with emotion, shares the inscription, which was carved into the tombstone of her father, Albert Kemp, an Anzac buried in the Gaza War Cemetery. She learned this week that her father's grave, along with hundreds of other Commonwealth war graves, has likely been bulldozed by the IDF. Despite her knowledge of the grave's location, she has received no official word, and the site appears to have been obliterated by IDF bulldozers.
The IDF claims the destruction was necessary to address 'underground terrorist infrastructure' identified within the cemetery and its surroundings. However, families of the Anzac dead express deep skepticism. Wilma and her family now face the heart-wrenching uncertainty of Albert's remains' whereabouts.
Wilma, who was too young to know her father, has traveled across Crete and the Middle East to trace his Anzac service. She felt closest to him at his grave, which she visited in 1995, braving a two-hour Mossad interrogation and armed checkpoints alone. She brought a wreath, a photo of her father, and an Australian flag.
The site, once a place of reverence, has now been destroyed. Military earthmoving has occurred within the last year in the southern corner of the cemetery. Satellite photographs reveal rows of gravestones removed and soil disturbance across sections A and B, which hold the graves of Second World War soldiers, predominantly Australians. A substantial earth berm runs through the disturbed area.
Wilma has been writing to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese since October 2023, urging him to protect the sites and investigate the damage. She has been referred to various departments, leaving her frustrated. She believes the Prime Minister's office is shirking responsibility.
As the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, visits Australia, Wilma calls for the Albanese government to demonstrate leadership. She wants pressure placed on Israel to allow staff from the Office of Australian War Graves into Gaza to assess the damage. She suspects the government is passing the buck.
The Department of Veterans' Affairs acknowledges the 'significant damage' to the Gaza War Cemetery, including Australian graves. The Office of Australian War Graves expresses concern, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission plans to secure and repair the cemetery once it's safe. However, the immediate priority is humanitarian efforts.
Wilma's grief and anger are palpable as she grapples with the loss of her father's grave. She wrote a poem, capturing the power of his grave in her heart and the pain of its destruction. Her words echo the injustice and unfairness of losing her father so young.
