"...we few who remain...."

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Placing this thread here because the nature of Remembrance means that this thread commemorates Servicemen and women of all the Services.

Took a trip out to Alrewas today to the National Memorial Arboretum, to see what had changed and to see the new Armed Forces Memorial. It turned out to be quite an emotional trip. This thread is picture heavy. I'll start off with a trip into the FEPOW building, commemorating Far East Prisoners of War. I'd not been in this building and was struck by two of its features in particular. One was a touch screen search facility attached to the wall. You find a particular entry and their name appears on a constantly changing nominal roll of FEPOW's. The second was this copy of a stained glass window from Tandjong Priok POW camp in Batavia. The following piece of text, taken directly from the panels, I found particularly striking....

...occupying a space no larger than some 20 X 15 ft, a purposeful building was erected, dedicated as a non-denominational Christian church... it served as a reminder of such places in our towns and villages... it signified FAITH and HOPE in those dark days and indicated both a MORAL DEFIANCE and spiritual DEI GRACIA. When men of all ranks had to leave and serve or die elsewhere, we and they took with them that same FAITH and HOPE... this permanent memorial will bring joy to we few who remain and our children's children.

Reverend Hugh Edwards, 77th HAA, RA.

Below are pictured the FEPOW building and the Memorial window.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8818.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8840a.jpg

Memorial to those who served in the Sultanate of Oman.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8842a.jpg

Memorial to all those involved in the Atomic testing in the Pacific.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8851a.jpg

The Commando Memorial is very striking and in these PC days leaves absolutely no doubt as to their purpose...

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8853.jpg

Two shots of the plot commemorating the Merchant Navy and DEMS gunners.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8855a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8857a.jpg

Two shots of the new Memorial to the Staffordshire Regiment and all its antecedents.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8858.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8860a.jpg

And now we come to several views of the new Armed Forces Memorial. I cannot express just what an emotional experience it was to visit this Memorial today. We are used to seeing large Memorials commemorating the fallen of the First and Second World Wars, but seeing the names of those who died in Service since the Second World War really puts the numbers into very stark perspective. I will intersperse the photographs with some explanatory text from the booklet produced for the Dedication Ceremony.

Firstly, the view from Yeomanry Avenue.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8841a.jpg

A few more views of the approach.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8817a-1.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8862a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8861.jpg

From the Dedication booklet....

"The Memorial echoes the ancient burial grounds of our ancestors - an earthen platform 100 metres across that recollects monuments like Silbury Hill and the mounds around Stonehenge.... At the summit stand two straight walls within a circular enclosure, overlooked by a slender obelisk."

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8863a.jpg

Along the North wall is this vignette, described in the booklet as "...a wounded Serviceman is raised on a stretcher by comrades, while a mother clasped by a child looks on, and an older couple clutch each other in anguish. Behind this scene are echoes of Homer's Iliad and the Trojan War, where the body of Patroclus was carried on a shield by fellow Greek Warriors back to the grieving Achilles, whose armour he had borrowed."

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8872a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8883a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8871a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8870a.jpg

At the opposite end to the entrance stands the obelisk, and beyond, a view across the Arboretum.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8877.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8884.jpg

Part 2 to follow.

Regards,

kev35

Original post

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 6,968

Part 2.

The vignette on the South wall is described thus "The second group shows the wounded and dying body of the warrior being gathered up by female and Gurkha soldiers, while the figure before the double doors points to a world beyond where the warrior will rest. The letter - carver witnesses the episode and records the inscription on the wall for posterity."

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8875a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8873a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8876a.jpg

Photographs of the North wall and yet more of Sassoon's 'intolerably nameless names.'

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8880a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8885a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8887a.jpg

The Armed Forces Memorial is everything it should be and more. It is peaceful, evocative, even beautiful, but it conveys such an immense impression of power. Almost as though those remembered there are shouting to the world 'now try and forget us!'

The most powerful image of the day came to me as I looked through the viewfinder of the camera at the blank Southern wall. I put the camera down without taking the shot. Sadly, the names of future generations will adorn that wall. Maybe then I'll take a photograph.

Regards,

kev35

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24 years 2 months

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Powerful images.
Thanks for sharing.

Member for

16 years 10 months

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brings tears to my eyes....... very powerful images.
thankyou for sharing also

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17 years 6 months

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Thanks for posting those photographs.

Two thoughts on the architecture of the new Armed Forces Memorial.

Firstly, I think I read that there are fifteen thousand names already carved into the memorial…and significantly, space for fifteen thousand more.

Secondly, there seem to be an awful lot of steps…did the architect(s) think about the age and abilities of those likely to be visiting?

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 6,968

Creaking Door.

For disabled access, the place is well catered for. They have a significant number of both manual wheelchairs and motorised scooters for the public to use. On the new Armed Forces Memorial, there is a circular sloping path that winds its way around the outside of the Memorial before reaching the summit allowing excellent views of the site for those who use this route.

On the point of there being room for fifteen thousand more names, you are correct. The curved Southern wall provided the most powerful and stark reminder of what this Memorial is all about. Seeing that blank wall and knowing that one day it would be filled with names provided a very emotional moment.

Regards,

kev 35

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 10,168

Good post Kev!

Very moving monuments there Kev thanks for posting this! "lest we forget"

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Kev. I regret to say I did not even know that this place existed.

Thank you for the comprehensive report and the brilliant images.

It's now on my list.

FYI - as I know you will appreciate the action - November 11 sees me at the Menin Gate at Ypres.

Moggy

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Thanks for the replies.

Any of you who know me will know that I am not an admirer of modern architecture or modern art and I did have misgivings as to how the new Armed Forces Memorial would actually look. I'm happy to say I needn't have worried.

The design team's acknowledgment through the first vignette of the overwhelming grief of wives, children and parents is welcomed and displayed in this way is really very, very striking. The second vignette has a striking resonance too and acknowledges the role of women on the front line. The imagery of the body being prepared for removal to a place of eternal rest and the lone figure pointing through the slightly open door to a 'better world' is again very powerful. As is the letter - carver, further acknowledgment that Sacrifice will not be forgotten.

I urge anyone who can to visit the NMA. It is free to enter with excellent facilities. I have been several times and still not seen it all as it is constantly changing. If anyone wishes I can add photo's of some of the other Memorials there from my previous visits.

Moggy.

I know why you'll be at the Menin Gate. Enjoy your day, I'm sure at least one man will be very grateful that you took the time to be there.

Regards,

kev35

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Very powerful and moving photos. Thank you.

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17 years 4 months

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Thank you

Kev,

Thank you for sharing your photos, as always they are of a very high standard. Next year, when the weather improves I will be taking my father who served in Conflicts this Memorial commenorates and I know I will see another side my dear dad.

Moggy, I wish you a safe trip to a very moving place, Ive only been once many years ago and it will be a trip I intend to make again.

Bex

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A very appropriate post, the "memorial" to those who took part in the nuclear testing, especially poignant.

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The vignette on the South wall is described thus "The second group shows the wounded and dying body of the warrior being gathered up by female and Gurkha soldiers, while the figure before the double doors points to a world beyond where the warrior will rest. The letter - carver witnesses the episode and records the inscription on the wall for posterity."

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8875a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8873a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8876a.jpg

Photographs of the North wall and yet more of Sassoon's 'intolerably nameless names.'

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8880a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8885a.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d17/kev35_/IMG_8887a.jpg

The Armed Forces Memorial is everything it should be and more. It is peaceful, evocative, even beautiful, but it conveys such an immense impression of power. Almost as though those remembered there are shouting to the world 'now try and forget us!'

The most powerful image of the day came to me as I looked through the viewfinder of the camera at the blank Southern wall. I put the camera down without taking the shot. Sadly, the names of future generations will adorn that wall. Maybe then I'll take a photograph.

Regards,

kev35

Excellent images. Is there a list of the names on the web?

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Posts: 6,968

Mark.

The Armed Forces Memorial has a searchable database which gives the names. It appears however that you do have to provide a surname.

Stuart Gowans wrote....

"A very appropriate post, the "memorial" to those who took part in the nuclear testing, especially poignant."

I haven't looked into it but it is to Honour those who served during Britain's period of atomic testing. I assumed that it was also intended to be a Memorial to those who had died since serving during the tests. Haven't or aren't a significant number of service personnel serving during this testing developed or are developing cancers which may or may not be related to the tests?

Regards,

kev35

Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 2,025

Mark.

The Armed Forces Memorial has a searchable database which gives the names. It appears however that you do have to provide a surname.

Stuart Gowans wrote....

"A very appropriate post, the "memorial" to those who took part in the nuclear testing, especially poignant."

I haven't looked into it but it is to Honour those who served during Britain's period of atomic testing. I assumed that it was also intended to be a Memorial to those who had died since serving during the tests. Haven't or aren't a significant number of service personnel serving during this testing developed or are developing cancers which may or may not be related to the tests?

Regards,

kev35

By placing the memorial there, it could be viewed as an acceptance of responsibility for such.

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The most powerful image of the day came to me as I looked through the viewfinder of the camera at the blank Southern wall. I put the camera down without taking the shot. Sadly, the names of future generations will adorn that wall. Maybe then I'll take a photograph.

Regards,

kev35

I can't help thinking and wishing that wall could stay blank, War is so futile in the long run and we have learned nothing in more than 2000 years when it comes to peace, But we have learnt plenty on how to kill, Thats the sad bit that all theses name are not only lost lives and families and friends that lives were never the same again, What a waste.

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Stuart.

I think the Memorial to those who were involved in atomic testing was placed there by a Veteran's Association and not as a result of some Governmental acceptance of responsibility.

I can't help thinking and wishing that wall could stay blank, War is so futile in the long run and we have learned nothing in more than 2000 years when it comes to peace, But we have learnt plenty on how to kill, Thats the sad bit that all theses name are not only lost lives and families and friends that lives were never the same again, What a waste.

I too wish that the wall could stay blank, but you and I both know that will never happen. It is the very nature of the task that by volunteering for duty in the Armed Services of one's Country one is most likely to be placed in harm's way. The acceptance of the 'Queen's shilling' is testament to that.

I would argue that a good many of those remembered at Alrewas would contest that the war or conflict in which they died was futile. It was a duty they carried out to their utmost. To say otherwise is to demean their actions and thereby reduce the loss. I believe you are married to a lady of Eastern European origin? Would she and her family have the same view as you after knowing what Germany did to the East?

I won't argue that point any further, for the simple reason that I respect a diversity of opinion. But I would hope most people would agree that sometimes war is a wholly unpalatable but very necessary evil.

Regards,

kev35

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Posts: 763

Very evocative images, it is a place on my to do list as well. Thank you very much for sharing them.

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17 years 11 months

Posts: 103

Hi all
My wife's Grandfather, Lewis Brown, Was on the aircraft carrier Campania during the first test (Hurricane) on the Monte bello islands. From what he has told me when the bomb was let off the only precautions that were taken was "Turn your back to the flash":eek: :eek: :eek: they were then told they could turn around and watch the cloud. He also has some small postcards issued to the crew with cartoons of the test that he sent home to his wife.
Andy

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Posts: 16,832

There was an excellent, hour-long programme on the monument early Sunday night. It mixed some fascinating stuff on its construction with a few potted biographies of a selection of the names thereon. Stories from Aden, NI and Afghanistan.

Super stuff.

Moggy

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Posts: 2,290

I've been out of it for the past few weeks with quite a serious illness, which still hasn't been resolved, just reading things on here has kept me going somewhat, it's been my little thing, but I saw Kevs thread the other day and was quite moved by it. Interestingly enough, like Moggy, I had no knowledge of this place and felt ashamed, but then, it's opening and existance has recieved little media attention either, probably due to the coverage given to the current and potential conflicts that this place represents.
I also discovered the programme at the last minute on BBC1 yesterday evening and everything became clear, a poignant and moving programme on such a subject for once, made very surreal by the constant explosion from the local firework displays.
Fantastic photos and description Kev, thanks for making me aware, I hope to be able to get there one day.