National War Memorial Arboretum

Another visit to Alrewas in Staffordshire today with some of the guys from the camera club.

I was surprised to find when I got there that the visitor centre had been closed and was being demolished. Apparently it was built to support 100,000 visitors a year. They are getting over 300,000 each year now.

A temporary entrance has been constructed - that alone would be worthy of many attractions. 

Last weekend, several thousand bikers visited and donated over £80,000. Good on you guys, but, am pleased we came this Saturday.

There's always something new here. The Camp Bastion memorial has been placed here including parts from the one built over in Afghanistan. Its very sobering when you see all the names of those who gave their lives in service of their country, irrespective of whether or not you agree with our politicians decisions to get involved.

Behind the entrance is the one of the most poignant areas with memorials to those who perished in the far east in WW2.

This image is a section of the Burma Railway, complete with tools used in its construction by 60,000 servicemen forced to work by the Japanese, of which over 12,000 allied forces perished.This cross is simply pushed into a crack in the old wooden sleeper. Nothing more needs to be said.