DEATH and infirmity are thinning their ranks. There are fewer regimental standards on parade than in previous years, while a more faltering gait has replaced the sure, confident marching steps of youth.

But they were there yesterday at scores of war memorials across the North; the heroes who came home from war.

With rows of medals pinned on their chests and faded regimental berets sitting on snowy white heads, the veterans are now waging a new battle: against vandals.

In honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure freedom from tyranny for succeeding generations, the old campaigners yesterday refused to allow mindless acts of desecration to detract from their homage to the fallen.

About 30 local men went down with a newly-built corvette which hit a German mine at the beginning of sea trials, in the Tees estuary in the dark days of 1940.

All their names have been obliterated from the war memorial at Smith's Dock Park at Normanby, Middlesbrough - including the name of Sid Moremon's Uncle Tom.

Shipwright Tom Moremon was near the ship's fully-loaded magazine when the vessel hit the mine.

Three men who Sid knew were washed out of what had been the ship's engine room. They survived.

Sid, 71, is secretary of the Smith's Dock Park, Middlesbrough, which includes the war memorial.

Vandals had previously and systematically burned the ornamental shrubs planted around the memorial. Their final act was the stone itself.

"A lot of names have been scratched out, all the names of those who were on the corvette. The names will have to be re-engraved. It is very sad but kids' discipline and everything has gone by the board."

A frantic clean-up mission was launched at Eaglescliffe after vandals threw white paint and eggs over the communty's war memorial. An iron-work poppy wreath, a feature of railings installed around the stone was deliberately dislodged and kicked to the ground only last month.

Parish council chairman Ian Bewley said: "I think it is unspeakable that anyone could behave like this."