We’ve had a day out at the National Memorial Arboretum which has memorial monuments for lots of things from people lost in world wars and other conflicts to stillborn babies and everything in between. The memorials are set in beautiful landscaped gardens near Alrewas in Staffordshire.

Amongst the memorials we’re ones to footballers including a memorial funded by Leyton Orient FC commemorating the players of Clapton Orient Football Club who all volunteered to join the 17th Battalion Middlesex Regiment during the First World War, many sustained wounds and three players died during the battle of the Somme.

There was also one commemorating the Christmas truce of 1914 when British and German forces who’d been killing each other the day before stopped fighting on Christmas Day and played football, the bronze handshake encased in wire to form a football symbolises this. 

It’s a fascinating place and we’ll worth a visit.

Glapton Orient FC Memorial

Christmas Truce handshake

 

The memorial that has names of every serviceman lost in wars.

A bronze tree statue with brass leave that have inscription to loved ones who’ve died,

By way of balance, may I recommend https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/4007266/cannock-chase-german-military-cemetery/

 

Great pictures, @Fan of Big Tone. I haven’t been there for years now, due to the homeless and student drug users, but I will try to get to see this. Hopefully, the area has been cleaned up since then because it ruined such a nice place.

4 minutes ago, TheSkipper said:

Great pictures, @Fan of Big Tone. I haven’t been there for years now, due to the homeless and student drug users, but I will try to get to see this. Hopefully, the area has been cleaned up since then because it ruined such a nice place.

Err are you sure you are talking about the same place @TheSkipper this is in Staffordshire and it’s beautiful it’s not the Arboretum in Nottingham. 

i was going to say @Fan of Big Tone, its changed a lot.

one day i might drive and take a look around this as it does seem like a nice place to visit.

Good pics, it seems an interesting place to visit.

@Fan of Big Tone: Is this near an army barracks or base? I think I watched a vlogger walking around there.

It looks a very nice place to have a trip with the family, whilst paying respect and learning about the background of those memorialised. We have a tendacy of reading the plaques around Nottingham when we see them, such as The Embankment gardens.

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

4 hours ago, Chris said:

@Fan of Big Tone: Is this near an army barracks or base? I think I watched a vlogger walking around there.

It looks a very nice place to have a trip with the family, whilst paying respect and learning about the background of those memorialised. We have a tendacy of reading the plaques around Nottingham when we see them, such as The Embankment gardens.

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

I didn’t see a military base @Chris but it may well be, it’s certainly a lovely place to visit.

These photographs are truly captivating. Although I haven't been there myself, it seems like a place where one could become engrossed in the stories and memorials.