A former Army cook says he will not be deterred from being patriotic after thieves stole two St George's flags from his garden.
Ronald Hodgson, 81, had them in his garden at Richard Street, Barnsley. One was attached to a piece of wood he had painted white and one was flying from a flagpole — a Christmas present from his son Ian.
Ian, 45, said: "Dad is very patriotic and was an Army cook and corporal. During the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations last year, he put up the bit of wood with the flag on it, and for Christmas I bought him a proper flagpole - he was delighted."
But on Sunday morning, the pensioner woke to find both flags had been taken. The old one had been ripped off the piece of wood and the newer one had been cut from the flagpole cord.
Ian said: "Dad has taken it in his stride - he's that kind of man - but what sort of town do we live in when our own country's flags are stolen?"
Ian posted about the theft on his Facebook page and one response remarked that the flags may have been stolen as some kind of political gesture.
Ian posted back: "Flying a flag seems racist nowadays, not the actions of an elderly patriotic serviceman. It made my blood boil."
Now Ronald, who was also a caretaker at Honeywell School (the former Raley School) for 34 years, is preparing to run a new St George's Cross up the flagpole.
He said: "I've no idea why they took my flags - I have no enemies here. Maybe it was someone who came home with a pint or two in their belly."
