A replacement plaque commemorating the Battle of Arnhem at the city’s John Frost bridge has been damaged by vandals, who ripped it out of the stone holder and dumped it some distance away.

The original bronze plaque went missing, just one week ahead of the 4 May remembrance ceremonies honouring the dead of World War II and the replacement had only been in place for a month.

The replacement – a compilation of photographs of soldiers who fought there making up Frost’s face – was the initiative of television programme Even tot hier.

The original plaque described the history of the bridge in Dutch and English. It was named after British lieutenant-colonel John Frost, who fought for four days to try to hold the bridge under heavy German fire during Operation Market Garden in 1944.

The “bridge too far” has a central place in the annual commemoration of the Battle of Arnhem in September.

“It is incomprehensible,” city official Bob Roelofs told local broadcaster Omroep Gelderland. “It shows a complete lack of respect.” The council has made a formal police complaint about the vandalism.