There are divided views over whether a statue of a famous Victorian-era soldier should be pulled down.

The anti-camp wants the bronze figure of Lord Kitchener in Chatham town centre toppled.

They have branded him a racist and condemned him for his part in setting up concentration camps.

This happened in South Africa during the Second Boer War at the turn of the last century.

However, opponents say he was a "hero of his time and a leading engineer in military innovation".

The imposing statue of the field marshal on horseback is in Dock Road.

The debate started after a statue of slave trader Edward Colston was hauled off its plinth in Bristol during a Black Lives Matter demonstration.

Opposing groups have set up petitions to air their views to Medway Council.

NHS nurse Jacqui Berry is spearheading the move to get it removed.

The 32-year-old, who works in Medway Maritime's intensive care unit, described it as an "icon of a racist figure".

She said: "We should not be putting somebody on a pedestal who oversaw the massive expansion of concentration camps.

"Any reasonable person can see why it's a problem to have somebody who oversaw such widespread death and destruction on a massive plinth in a town centre in 2020."

The Strood resident insisted it was not about erasing history as some have argued.

She said: "It's only by drawing attention to this sort of thing that we learn what actually happened."

Her petition, one of two in circulation, has so far attracted 500 names.

However, a rival petition urging for it to remain has drawn nearly 3,000 signatures.

Supporters say to remove it would be "an insult to the local military and their engineering history".

The petition reads: "We request you save the statue and work with the Royal Engineers Museum to show Lord Kitchener for who he really was."

Former sapper Steve Craddock, 62, said: "For me, we cannot look back on the distant past through 21st century eyes.

"Kitchener, warts and all, was possibly the most famous Royal Engineer of them all and it is fitting that he should be remembered in Chatham, which has been the home of the Corps of Royal Engineers for over 200 years.

"I also think that remembering history, good and bad, enables us to look back and hopefully not repeat the mistakes of the past."

The St Mary's Island resident served in the regiment for 15 years and has raised nearly £500,000 for Help 4 Heroes.

Lord Herbert Kitchener, as Secretary of State for War, played a central role in the First World War.

His image was used in the iconic Your Country Needs You poster campaign.

In a previous story we asked readers to vote in a poll on the issue – see the results.

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