A weekend away.

[English Bloke]

So what have I been up to this weekend?

I went to a party for a friends 50th. He'd come up for my "surprise" 50th a few months back and his missus was so impressed with my Wife's sterling stitch-up and excellent hook, line and sinker effect on me, she decided to pull the same for her Bloke Gary. It was a fair ol' drive to get down there so we stopped over in a near-by Hotel on Saturday night to allow us to enjoy the evening to it's fullest. There were a fair few ex and current there but we had all served with the Birthday boy and each other at some point with a few of us more than once. There were former soldiers there that I haven't seen for twenty five years. Great to get it on again. It was like stepping into a time machine.


This is a few of us partaking in a group Karaoke rendition of "Swing Low", a favourite of ours from when we all played rugby together in the 80's and 90's. (Yes, it's that song, for that team). We've just got to the "carry me home" bit. Well, you have to sing it with actions don't you?

On the Sunday, after a smashing fried breakfast and a couple of tins of "Black Asprin" (Coke) it was a beautiful day so we decided we'd go and do a bit of rememberin'. My wife decided she'd better drive (I wasn't really up to driving, not for a while yet anyway. It had been a long night) and so drove us North to the National Memorial Arboretum. Located in the heart of the country, inspired by Arlington Cemetary and National Arboretum in Washington DC and built on a reclaimed gravel pit, it houses 50,000 maturing trees and more than 200 Memorials, both Military and Civilian paying tribute to organisations, formations and units from all over the world.
I thought I'd share some of the day with you too.


The first thing to see is the monument to the Berlin Airlift which is a dramatic Golden Eagle in flight.


The Polar Bear Memorial commemorating the 49th Infantry (West Riding) Division.


Looking across at the Armed Forces Memorial, the centre-piece of the park.


Bronze sculptures inside depict Loss and Sacrifice and the walls record the names of all UK Armed Forces personnel who have lost their lives in conflict, peace keeping or humanitarian efforts since the end of the Second World War.


It's all rather emotive and moving.


A closer look.

[English Bloke]

Taking a moment to rest.


The ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) Statue. ATS were young women aged between 19 and 23, serving during World War Two and it was the predecesor to the Womens Royal Army Corps.


The Gallipoli Memorial commemorates the incredible loss of life during the First World War where ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), British and French took on the Turkish Army in a disastrous attempt to capture Constantinople (Istanbul) and secure a sea route to Russia. There were terrible losses on both sides. I've been to Gallipoli. Very sobering place.


The monument to the Bevin Boys. Young men who were conscripted during the Second World War to work down the coal mines.


The Royal Air Force Assosiation Remembrance Garden.


The Royal British Legion National Remembrance Garden.


The National Ex-Prisoner of War Assosiation Gates.


My daughter of course was very interested in the Ladybirds on the bushes.


Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, look, look Daddy, Ladybirds!

[English Bloke]

More hold-ups. That's the Royal Military Police Assosiation Memorial in the background.


So to chivvie her on a bit coz there is a lot to see, she willingly hopped on her horse.


And off we trotted.


The Polish Armed Forces Memorial in recognition of Poland's contribution to the Allied war effort.


The Royal Army Medical Corps Memorial Grove.






In the large woodland, the trees are all planted in memory.

[McClef]

Great pictures John!

[English Bloke]

My daughter liked this one from the Showman's Guild of Great Britain.


Next to the memorial stone is a beautiful fairground horse.


I'm a lucky Bloke!

On a more somber note...


"Shot at Dawn". One of the most publicized Memorials in the park, it commemorates the 306 World War One British and Commonwealth Servicemen who were shot for desertion or cowardice. Most were sentanced to death after a short show-trial at which they had no real opportunity to defend themselves.

Several were underage when they volunteered and it is now recognised that many were suffering from Battle-shock or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.


In 2006, Victim Harry Farr's descendants took the Ministry of Defence to the High court to prove Harry had been wrongly convicted. They won the case and shortly afterwards a postumous pardon was granted to Harry and all of the other men.


Each of the wooden posts represent a life lost.


The statue depicts Herbert Burden of the 1st Btn Northumberland Fusiliers who was shot at Ieper (Ypres) in 1915 aged just 17.

[English Bloke]

Some other memorials were "Jimmy" (Mercury the winged messenger) from the Royal Corps of Signals Assosiation Memorial.


Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.


The Household Division depicting the five regiments of Guards.


A tree of remembrance.


The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)


It really was a good day in gorgeous surroundings and lovely weather. As I said there are over 200 different commerative memorials and despite being there for more than four hours, we only got around about a third of them. The piccies above are a small selection of some of those. I hope you enjoyed it too.


And so towards home...

I must go again, I imagine it's stunning in Autumn...

[KiltedDixon]

Wow! I am overwhelmed by your post. Thanks for the pics and references.

[Santa Wally]

What beautiful, but sobering, photos of the memorials. Thanks for posting them. A reminder of the losses sustained during those wars. Our thanks for their sacrifices from grateful nations.

[Mickey]

Awesome pics and story! Thanks so much

[seanachie]

This is a few of us partaking in a group Karaoke rendition of "Swing Low", a favourite of ours from when we all played rugby together in the 80's and 90's. (Yes, it's that song, for that team). We've just got to the "carry me home" bit. Well, you have to sing it with actions don't you?

Phil Collins version? I am amazed at how many variations of this song exist.

Wonderful pictures by the way, I enjoyed seeing those.