National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffs

[mallosa]

Just been adding Peterd's photos to BCC (soon to be added to the forum Gallery)
Fabulous photo's Pete!

Take a look and dont forget to click on the 'Magnify' symble to see full size

[peterd]

Its a must place for any one to visit at least once, no matter what your belives about our forces going abroad. To read all those names from 1945 onwards who paid the ultimate price for there country words cannot discribe, i was informed there only one year 1968 when no one died due to confilct but there still names for that year too.

People may not wish to visit the shot at dawn memorial, but the soliders were pardoned in 2006 and it is worth the walk to the bottom of the site near the river, After the main memorial i would say this is the most emotional and thought provoking statue on the site (my opinion) to walk in between the post reading there name and ages you carnt help but wonder what would you have done if you been in there situation, being shelled walking over dead bodies of your fellow comrades or even family? thought provoking?

The site contains memorials from the first world war to the prsent, organisation and individuals also some no military memorials too.

any one visiting the country i would put on you list to visit there are ammenities on site etc

National Memorial Arboretum

[snoopysue]

I agree, whatever the reason for the war, the soldiers don't get to pick and chose which conflicts they're involved in. I may disagree with the war, but I will always support the soldiers.

I heard some years ago that since the second world war there wasn't a single year when a British soldier hadn't died in a conflict, somewhere in the world. Even though I'm not in the UK, I always think of the soldiers on 11th November.

[sparkstopper]

I visit the site quite often. and have attended all the rememberance
services since it opened. There are excellent facilities for dining and one
can spend many hours walking around the various memorials..There is also
a 'train' which goes around the whole site, for people who find difficulty
walking any distance...it is an excellent 'day out'..well worth the visit..
Ample parking, but they have recently introduced a modest parking fee.

[SRD]

I'm always somewhat ambivalent about this; whilst understanding, and applauding, the sacrifice that the 'poor bloody infantry' have made, nowadays, for the most part, they did choose to become soldiers and anyone who chooses that line of work really ought to be aware that at some point they're are likely to have to pick up a gun and kill someone and run the risk of being killed themselves. Even my brother, who was an airframe mechanic in the R.A.F., not a career noted for its danger, had to spend time on guard duty, with a real gun and live ammunition, spent time in the Falklands where there were still many areas of uncleared munitions and mines etc. and ran the risk of having to go to other theatres of war. But, I know that, in order to protect the way of life we enjoy, we need people who are prepared to take up arms and defend us, both here and abroad, and those who do that particular job have nothing but my admiration.

[snoopysue]

I'm always somewhat ambivalent about this; whilst understanding, and applauding, the sacrifice that the 'poor bloody infantry' have made, nowadays, for the most part, they did choose to become soldiers and anyone who chooses that line of work really ought to be aware that at some point they're are likely to have to pick up a gun and kill someone and run the risk of being killed themselves. Even my brother, who was an airframe mechanic in the R.A.F., not a career noted for its danger, had to spend time on guard duty, with a real gun and live ammunition, spent time in the Falklands where there were still many areas of uncleared munitions and mines etc. and ran the risk of having to go to other theatres of war. But, I know that, in order to protect the way of life we enjoy, we need people who are prepared to take up arms and defend us, both here and abroad, and those who do that particular job have nothing but my admiration.

I do agree with you up to a point, no modern soldier is forced to join up and should be fully aware of the risks they take. Most of them are ambivalent about war too, on the one hand they get to put into practice the theory they've learnt, on the other hand they leave their loved ones behind knowing they may never see them again. (I would say in my experience British soldiers and their families are more aware of the risks they take when they join up than for example the Danish soldiers).
When you look at history though, most of the soldiers and other military personal that took part in major conflicts didn't have the choice.

[MarkCDodd]

Australians have always had the choice (apart from the Vietnam war and part of WWII).

They are usually fighting further away from their homeland than any other (apart from the fellow ANZACS from New Zealand).

But they know the lifestyle and freedom they have in Australia needs defending and trust the elected government will know what we need to defend against.

So they fight and die in places like Iraq and Afghanistan because terrorism does not have borders.

They have nothing but respect from the Australian public which is in stark contrast to the poor conscripts who returned from Vietnam.

The anger towards the US involving us in a Civil War was misdirected to those troops.

Their treatment was one of the most sickening episodes in our 200 year history.

AUstralians are now falling over themselves to ensure our troops returning from the Middle East are not blamed for thepolitics that sent them there.

[peterd]

I agree they all joined up of there own free will and with the knowledge that they will be put in harms way, but no one signs up with the thought that there going to get shot dead or you wouldnt have any forces what so ever, when some one dies in the line of duty then they deserve public respect. you volenteer when you go to work each day even if its a dagerous job you dont expect to get killed in the process of doing that job or you wouldn't go, same situation.

dont forget the arboritum is there for 1945 onwards we did end conscription till 1960 my father didnt have a choice about two years in korea 51-53 lost a few mates to, so dont they deserve respect?

palestine, india, malaya, korea, suez, aden, kenya, to name a few more conflicts with conscription still in place

[snoopysue]

I agree they all joined up of there own free will and with the knowledge that they will be put in harms way, but no one signs up with the thought that there going to get shot dead or you wouldnt have any forces what so ever, when some one dies in the line of duty then they deserve public respect. you volenteer when you go to work each day even if its a dagerous job you dont expect to get killed in the process of doing that job or you wouldn't go, same situation.

dont forget the arboritum is there for 1945 onwards we did end conscription till 1960 my father didnt have a choice about two years in korea 51-53 lost a few mates to, so dont they deserve respect?

palestine, india, malaya, korea, suez, aden, kenya, to name a few more conflicts with conscription still in place

It's a bit like my line of work, in the health service. We expect a bit of lip every once in a while, especially on a weekend, and we know that some collegues have been assaulted, but you never think it'll really happen to you, or even to close collegues.

Whatever the conflict, conscript or volunteer, soldiers all deserve our respects!

[mallosa]

Photo's in the Gallery