The National Memorial to Servicemen
(Backed by the British Legion)

Why the the memorial is so important
Every year we are rightly reminded of the tremendous sacrifices made by men and women
during the two World Wars that disfigures the 20th century. However, it is widely accepted that
there has been insuffiecient recognition of the men and women of our Armed and Merchant Services who
have lost their lives in conflict, as a result of terrorist action or on training exercises since the end
of the Second World War. Unlike the World War memorials in towns and villages across the nations,
there is nowhere that records the 16,000 names of those who have been killed in duty since 1948.

During this operiod the men and women of the Armed forces and Merchant Services have taken
part in more that 50 operations and conflicts across the world, often as part of United Nations,
NATO or other international coalitions. these actions have ranged from hot war to peacekeeping from
humanitarian assisstance to fighting terroriasm, from the jungles of Malaysia to the storms of the South
Atlantic, from the streets of Aden to the Streets of Northern Ireland also in Korea and Suez.

It is not just Service men and women who mave made sacrifices. Behind every name on the memorial
there are the wives, husbands, partners, parents, children and colleagues who loved them and who live
with the pain and consequences of their loss every day.

Having visited the Arboretum and spent some time looking at the many plaques and memorials,
I could only find one mention of our ship, HMS Cardigan Bay, and that was very small and burried
amongst other ships names and even then, one of many inscribed on a rather large metal plate. I don't
know about you but having seen so many other plaques with ships names on, I wondered why we didn't
have one, together with a bench, just like all the others shown in the following pictures.

I hope you like the pictures and that they give you an idea of what the arboretum is all about.

The Chapel in the aboretum where a daily service is held at 11-00 every morning. This is well
attended every day by those who have lost someone or those who are just visiting the memorial.

 

These are the two sets of figures which are inside and situated either side of the memorial walls.

On the oposite walls there are the names of 16,000 who have fallen and there is room for
another 16,000 more.
The names of last years fallen heroes will also be added.

Bristish Legion Memorial

HMS Cardigan Bay.

On Tuesday 8th September 2009 members of the HMS Cardigan Bay attended the dedication
service of a seat which has been installed at the Arboretum to commemorate all those who had
served on HMS Cardigan Bay between 1945 and 1962. The service was conducted by
Pastor Paul Owen, a Chaplain at the Arboretum, and was attended by over 40 members
of the HMS Cardigan Bay Association including our own Admiral, Shipmate Richard Hill and
his wife Patricia. Also in attendance as guests were
Captain Nigel Jones of the RFA Cardigan Bay and his wife Susan.

At the Arboretum with Shipmate Godon Green who carried the HMS Cardigan Bay Standard

The Seat and plaque, which were purchased from money raised by donations from members
and non members of the HMS Cardigan Bay Association. This seat will preserve the the name of
HMS Cardigan Bay and all those who served in her for years to come so our grandchildren
and great grandchildren will be able to learn of what we did, where we went in the service
of our King, our Queen and our Country.