Alrewas - National Memorial Arboretum

The 1^st May saw us move from Fradley Junction to Alrewas to visit the National Memorial Arboretum, the UK’s Centre of Remembrance.  The Arboretum is set in 150 acres of maturing woodland.  As most people will know both Flo and I are ex-services and visiting the Memorial as, for some time, been at the top our list of things to do.

It’s a vast site, too much for us to visit in the time we had available, its central feature being the main military memorial.

 

 

 

 

The striking armed forces memorial commemorates those who have been killed on duty or as a result of terrorism from the end of the Second World War to the current conflict in Afghanistan.  The fourth picture above is a section of the vast wall of names; in its centre you will see the name R Greenwood, Roger and I joined our first regiment together in 1959 and served together for three years.  Roger died in Aden in 1967.

The next two pictures show the memorial of my Corps, the Royal Signal, and a bench plaque commemorating the Denbury Boys.  The Junior Leaders Regiment located at Denbury Camp near Newton Abbot, Devon had a short life from 1955 to 1967 and trained young men who joined the army from the age of 15. I was a Denbury Boy and served with the Regiment until I was 17 years of age.

The Royal Signals Memorial

Denbury Boys

There are many memorials on the site representing every unit of the armed forces and non-military organisations whose members died for our country since the Second World War.  I have chosen one that I think magnificent; it commemorates the fallen of the Parachute Regiment.

Parachute Regiment Memorial

One other memorial that Flo and I thought was very moving was unusual as it represented a group of serviceman from the First World War.  We believe the picture and its title speak for itself.

'Shot at Dawn'

We have promised ourselves that we will return very soon in the future.