If they’ve got the guts.

Terry McInerney, 64, described the vandals as “low-life, disrespectful cretins” and said he couldn’t understand the motivation behind the attack which destroyed a flagpole at the memorial.

“That memorial represents a lot of guys who have been killed in action and families in the city who have lost loved ones,” Mr McInerney said.

“I can’t come to grips with why you’d do that, what sort of mentality that person has.

“It shows a lack of discipline from the perpetrators and the parents of these cretins.”

Leading Senior Constable Di Thomson said Warrnambool police were investigating the incident, which is believed to have happened some time during the weekend.

She said it appeared the flagpole had been cut using tools and was probably not a spur-of-the-moment act.

“It’s quite disturbing if that’s what people are doing with their spare time,” she said.

Mr McInerney, who was 22 years old when he served in Vietnam in 1968/69, said he believed a lack of understanding about the sacrifices men and women have made serving in Australia’s military was part of the reason the memorial was targeted.

He challenged the vandals to own up to what they have done and meet veterans at the Anzac Day service.

“We would like those responsible to contribute or pay for the damage and come to the memorial on Anzac Day and apologise. If they’ve got the guts,” he said.

“I think of my dad and I think of blokes I served with who died (at war), or have died since from wounds both physical and psychological.

“I’m flabbergasted why they would damage someone else’s property like that. It’s senseless.”

Mr McInerney said the cost of replacing the damaged flagpole would most likely be paid by members of the Warrnambool and District Vietnam Veterans Association.