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National Memorial Arboretum

Thanks Dave, as I am not local and don't drive so far now it would be very kind of you and a great solace, for me to know if any of my old mates left behind are remembered there.
paul
 
Paul sent a email earier, this was a part of the reply, more in time

Aden conflict in Special Armed Services Garden,
I will try another angle and e-mail my other contacts between then though.


I have pics of that area, will check, Dave
 
Thanks for your time and effort Dave, I don't know why but I am not suprised, Aden was a war which was forgotten as soon as it ended and the poor British war dead left in "Silent Valley" war cemetary just as quickly. 90 killed, including 4 mates of mine, over 500 wounded and maimed between 1964/67, if you asked 100 people in the street about "The Aden Emergency" maybe 2 would know or remember it. Thanks again.
regards
paul.
 
Hi Dave, have you seen there is a set of Royal Mail stamps out this week to honour the war dead? Each of the ten designs
features sybolic poppies and a scene from the National Memorial Aboretum, which pays tribute to those killed in wars
during the 20th century and more recent conflicts, including Iraq. Money raised from the stamps will go towards a Veterans Pavillion for exservicemen who use the venue as well as helping to fund the Arboretoms educational works.
A set of stamps will be £13.50,of which £9.71 will be donated to the appeal. I sincerely hope all our exservice men
on the BHF will support this worthwhile appeal, Bernard
 
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paul stacey said:
Thanks for your time and effort Dave, I don't know why but I am not suprised, Aden was a war which was forgotten as soon as it ended and the poor British war dead left in "Silent Valley" war cemetary just as quickly. 90 killed, including 4 mates of mine, over 500 wounded and maimed between 1964/67, if you asked 100 people in the street about "The Aden Emergency" maybe 2 would know or remember it. Thanks again.
regards
paul.
Click to expand...

Hi Paul,

Most of the memorials at the Arboretum are erected by organisations of ex service men and women for instance The Far East Prisoners of War Association and my old ship HMS Gambia has an old shipmates association and we have had a small memorial put in place to remember all those who have crossd the bar. However the names of your comrades who were killled should be on the main memorial which was opened by Her Majesty the Queen two years ago. Thiis memorial records all service personnel who have been killed in conflicts since 1945. Sadly it is still being added to as a result of what is going on in Afghanistan.

Believe me your friends and others have not been forgotten by those of us who were around at the time.

Chris Beresford (Old Boy)
 
Hello again Dave, Good news, Bad news day!! Those stamps i mentioned only came out yesterday yet when I went into
the Main Post Ofice in Derby they had sold out!! Have ordered some for monday.(hopefully). The Good News is they
must have sold an awlful lot, which in turn is more for the NMA. cheers Bernard
 
I have been informed by the "Aden Vet's Assc" that the names of my fallen comrades, appear on the general monument, but that there isn't a special Aden site??? why, then when some others have sites which are pecific to their campagne's, and how would you go about getting a percific site set up. Like, suez,or Korea for example, and doe's anyone know if there will be a site for the N.I. campagne.
paul
 
paul stacey said:
I have been informed by the "Aden Vet's Assc" that the names of my fallen comrades, appear on the general monument, but that there isn't a special Aden site??? why, then when some others have sites which are pecific to their campagne's, and how would you go about getting a percific site set up. Like, suez,or Korea for example, and doe's anyone know if there will be a site for the N.I. campagne.
paul
Click to expand...

Paul if there is a Association contact them,

N.I. vets had a meet there not long ago, I was there to cover it, at the Ulster Grove. Dave
 
Hi Paul,

The only way to get an Aden Vets Memorial put up is if the Aden Vets Association themselves do it. The British Legion may be able to give advice.

Chris Beresford (Old Boy)
 
Hi Chris, if you look on the NMA site you will see that the whole Alrewas site is managed and run by the RBL, so they
would be the obvious people to contact. If they wanted any support I think the other Vets with memorials would be
glad to help. We, the Suez vets were outcasts for many many years, it took over fifty years to get our GSM, I was
actively involved in that fight, writing to MPs etc; Tony Brair did two good things as PM, the Suez Medal and the
minimum wage, BernardView attachment 59418
 
Glad to see you are keeping in touch Dave, its not really been the weather for visiting the NMA so you
are keeping us up to date.may I wish you a happy and healthy New Year and look forward to the pleasure of your company some time next year, all the very Best Bernard
 
I don't know how but the knowledge of this most interesting and important place has somehow evaded me.

It is magnificent, some of the sculptures and monuments are spectacular to say the least. A great tribute to those whom they commemorate.
Having served with the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm I was very pleased to see the Memorial to them. I was in the retained Fire Service for 29 years, after my six years RAF/FAA service and it was pleasing to see another National Memorial, besides the one in London, to Firefighters.
There are is much to be seen , so it really brings to mind the achievements and sacrifices which have been made by the people of our Nation in the last 150 years or more. The 9/11 Memorial, in my opinion, is a good inclusion as it was such a multi-national loss of life.

I doubt if I will visit it but I am sure many do and find it a very worthwhile experience. I find Remembrance Services and Memorials very difficult to come to terms with and if you are a participant, rather than as a spectator, it is important to remain composed. Some years ago I attended the London Cenotaph November parade; never again.
 
Hi Alan, the NMA is indeed a wonderful place for a visit, the last time I went I meet a fellow Coldstreamer who had come all the way from Hayling Island, I only live half an hour away in Derby
and will be going again soon to see the refurbished Suez site, take care now Bernard
ps They do have a web site you know
 
Greetings Bernard.

I looked through the whole thread yesterday describing the Arboretum. There were, as you know, many pages and I may have missed some items.

One train of thought is that of railwaymen:many lost their lived due to bombing of railway infrastructure during WW2. Although Korea and Suez are included I did not see mention of Aden or Cyprus or Kenya. These were also hostile places to British servicemen in the decades following WW2.

Often overlooked is the heroic struggle for survival amidst heavy bombing, during WW2, by the Maltese people and the British servicemen stationed there. Malta was the most bombed place on earth it is said. His Majesty King George VI didn't award the island the George Cross without good cause.
 
Hello again Alan,the whole site is managed by the RBL, and there has an appeal for £8 million to improve the site, and for new buildings etc; Royal Mail had a "First Day Cover" set of stamps where
most of the proceedings went to the NMA for future developments, as I said before, well worth a visit,
Bernard
 
never a truer word said alan see my comments on, #252, it seems a little unfocused to me, not detracting from the solemnety of the place or its focus for those who have perished in defence of the realm.
paul
 
Dave M said:
Paul if there is a Association contact them,

N.I. vets had a meet there not long ago, I was there to cover it, at the Ulster Grove. Dave
Click to expand...
Paul, what you have to remember is the whole site is managed and controlled by
the RBL, it follows that any new sites or memorials have to be approved by them. However strongly you feel about it, Aden is classed as a "Small War", just look at the battle we had over getting Suez regconized as"Active Service" , it took us over 50
years to get our GSM , Tony Brair did two really good things as PM, the minimum wage
and the awarding of our medal after all those years, keep smiling me old mate and
fellow Coldstreamer, Bernard
 
Dave M there is an association and I have contacted them. Bernard I am very pleased with your award,and glad you and your comrades deservidly got it at long last, the small war lasted from 1958 to 1967 with nearly 600 casualtys, the Aden emergency was from 64/67. of course I am not making comparisons all gerneral service (inc civvy organisations) and military active service units deserve recognition but they should be the same and with the same content, Again I have no wish to anger or insult anyone or there particular unit, I can only have the highest regard for all of you and wish you all well.
Nuli Secundus.
paul
 
At the end of March 2010 the No 12 bus Lichfield to Burton on Trent is being withdrawn from service, at present this bus stops at the NMA. As far as I can see there will be no bus service covering the NMA.
 
From the NMA web site


transp-bus-front.jpg
Buses: Bus route 12 runs up to every 60 minutes daytime Monday to Saturday, from Burton Railway Station (ideal for customers making connections to and from the Cross Country Rail Network) to Lichfield via Burton on Trent, New Street, Branston, Barton under Needwood, Alrewas and the National Memorial Arboretum, with connections to Birmingham via Hill Hook, Sutton Coldfield and Erdington.
Bus route 7E between Burton on Trent and Lichfield via Branston, Barton, Yoxall, Alrewas and Fradley, calls at the Arboretum on Sundays.
Bus timetables can be found on the Arriva Town Linx website.




as Mike said due to change
 
The Arriva bus company run bus 112 from Upper Bull St Birmingam directly to the NMB on its way to Burton On Trent. Arriva accept brum travel passes and if you want to travel before 9.30 it just costs £1.00. ( The bus can also be caught in Erdington, or Sutton ) Max
 
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