The trophy is of particular significance as it commemorates the service of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) officers in the First World War. These include the 125,000 personnel who were trained at 'HMS Victory VI', a shore station located in the Crystal Palace building and what are now the park grounds between 1914 and 1918.

The original memorial was unveiled by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in 1931. Housed in a hipped-roofed, timber-framed, open-sided pavilion, the trophy is notable for comprising three connected elements – a ship's bell supported by two large, upturned dolphins with swirling tails.

Victoria Pinnington, the Crystal Palace Park Trust’s Chief Executive Officer, said: "The theft of this special memorial trophy is incredibly sad and the Trust is working closely with the police, Historic England, the London Borough of Bromley and other key stakeholders to gather more information. We would ask anyone with details about its whereabouts to contact the police as a matter of urgency."

Simon Buteux, Partnerships Team Leader for London at Historic England said: “The theft of this poignant war memorial is a shocking and distressing loss. In light of the recent theft, we have added the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Trophy to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. We join the Trust in its appeal for further information and will support the police and the community to seek to bring those responsible to justice."

Suspected dates of disappearance are 18-25 August 2024. Members of the public are asked to contact the police with any information they may have using 101 or online, quoting the CAD reference 3098/03Sep24.