A 100-YEAR-OLD wooden cross which originally marked the grave of a soldier killed in France during the First World War has been stolen from Salisbury Cathedral.

The 4ft cross was on display with six other wooden crosses in the cathedral cloisters when it disappeared.

Marking the spot where Captain Francis Dodgson, 27, was killed and buried at Contalmaison, Battle of the Somme on July 10, 1916, the cross was brought to England when the War Graves Commission offered them to officer's families.

With the exception of one, all the crosses are for those whose families lived in the Close.

Cathedral guide Sylvia Biggs was horrified to discover one had been stolen.

She said: "I noticed it had gone after the giant baron heads which had been on display in the cloisters following the Magna Carta procession were removed.

"I wrote a book on military memorials in the cathedral and was fascinated by the brave men who gave the greatest gift to their country.

"They became people to me, they weren't just crosses.

"What's tearing me apart is that it might have gone before I noticed.

"I'm really upset and desperate to have it back.

"It might not even be in Salisbury but perhaps somebody might have a guilty conscience and bring it back.

"In monetary value, I don't suppose they're worth anything - the one that was stolen was the oldest one that would be 100 years old next year and every year some of the descendants come in and put fresh poppies by the crosses."

The eldest son of Henley F Dodgson and Mrs Hamilton Fulton, Captain Dodgson was in the 8th Batallion of Yorkshire Regiment, known as the Green Howards.

One of his brothers, Guy, was also killed in the war and the cathedral hold the wooden cross marking his grave as well.

Philip Pollard whose mother, Jeane, 92, is the niece of Francis Dodgson, said: "My mother is the last of her generation still alive and she comes to the cathedral every year in November to put a poppy on the crosses of her uncles.

"She is very upset that it has been stolen. I hope the person who has taken it realises that the crosses actually have a sentimental meaning to people who are still alive. It would be great to get the cross back for Remembrance Day."

The cathedral has removed the remaining crosses for safekeeping and is looking at how they can be secured to the wall.

Canon chancellor Ed Probert said: "It is really sad and quite pointless.

"It's a very strange thing to take. I can see no benefit to anyone in having it.

"They have no monetary value, only an emotional and historical one.

"It's very disappointing, particularly in this centenary period not to have them all there."

The cross was last seen on August 24 and reported missing on September 3.

Anyone with information should call Wiltshire Police on 101.