Page 266 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM (NMA) IS A PLACE THAT STIRS EMOTION
Notes from Gloucestershire, Bristol And Somerset
Thoughts from the M5
The National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) is a place that stirs emotion. It is a national site of Remem- brance, located at Alrewas, a few miles to the north of Lich eld, Staffordshire. The idea for the Arboretum was conceived and developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The site is situated near to where the rivers Tame and Trent meet; on occasion it can be very soggy underfoot. The planting of more than fty thousand trees has been most welcome. One hopes the Arboretum, together with the nearby Croxall lakes, will help local ood defence.
The origin of the site, as an Arboretum, is often overlooked. Some will recall regiments being asked to contribute funds to establish trees in memory of their fallen. The Polar Bears of the 49th Division, or ‘Monty’s Left Flank’ were, in 1998, the rst to establish and dedicate an on-site memorial. Its arrival pre-dated the build of the now well-known Armed Forces Memorial, dedicated in 2007. The arrival of the Polar Bear triggered a move to creating
more memorials. There are now several hundred memorials within NMA; it is a trend that continues. Meanwhile one hopes the original vision in estab- lishing an Arboretum will be upheld.
Many memorials are sited at NMA in the 21st Century because: they have no other natural home; travel abroad is unrealistic for many; some actions and units deserve to be remembered on a national stage; and, volunteers were willing to organise things and raise substantial sums of money. Today several old corporate war memorials such as Banks, Building Societies and Insurance Companies remembering their individuals from the Great War or Second World War can now be found. Elsewhere thirty metres of track from the Burma Railway has been re-laid. In another direction a soaring monument to the Berlin Airlift is visible. The diverse mix is immense and the Royal British Legion, who are responsible for the site, have a dif cult task.
The Light Infantry memorial at NMA was dedicated in 2011 and comprises a large piece of Portland stone adorned by the Bugle badge. Either side of the central stone are two stone benches with cap badges from the: Somerset Light Infantry; Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry; Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry; Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry; King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry; King’s Shropshire Light Infantry; Durham Light Infantry; and, Herefordshire Light Infantry. Portland stone was also used for the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regimental Memorial. Many years before, trees had been planted, at NMA, by respective forming and antecedent regiments.
Within our various Associations there are voices suggesting that more could be done at NMA. The Durham Light Infantry have erected a memorial at NMA and others are considering plans and members of the Gloucestershire Regiment are considering options. Is there another way? One of the strengths of the regimental system remains our link to the community, often manifest through recruitment. A visible and enduring sign of such links are our war memorials. In Somerset the Burma Cross at the centre of Taunton recalls those from the Somerset Light Infantry who died in Burma during Victorian times. Nearby, at St Mary Magdalene Church, the Regimental Aisle has many memorials commemo- rating individuals, deeds and history.
The Ri es Taunton Of ce
Stained glass window at St Mary Magdalene Church, Taunton
264 REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
THE RIFLES
Johnson Family Pilgrimage to Rouex CWGC