War memorial curator Stuart Green believes vandals used a rock to break off the left hand side of the marble soldier's slouch hat.

Mr Green noticed the damage doing his daily check of the area early yesterday.

Tasmania Police and the Northern Midlands Council have been contacted and are investigating.

In 2005, vandals spray painted the soldier blue and orange which cost the Northern Midlands RSL Sub Branch and the Northern Midlands Council about $4000 to fix.