Day 3 - VE Day

Day 3

VE Day Commemorations

We set off for the National Memorial Arboretum this morning. It seems a fitting place to be during the VE day Commemorations. -Set in 150-acres with 300 memorials to various military and civilian associations, with 50,000 trees.

We were not the only visitors today as members of the Royal British Legion Motorcycle also were visiting.

At the heart of the Arboretum is The Millennium Chapel of peace and Forgiveness. The Chapel is supported on 12 trunks of Douglas Fir, each representing one of the 12 Apostles, on whose witness the early Church was built. The Chapel has no cornerstone, reflecting the idea that "Christ is our cornerstone"

We hope pictures the following gives a reflection to the Arboretum.

The Toc-H Memorial reminded me of the Toc-H Branch in Saltash, just round the corner from the Manse. The name comes from a  rest home (Talbot House) in Belgium, 6 miles from Ypres that was opened in 1915 as a place of peace and safety away from the fighting. After WW1 Branches were set up to reflect the ethos of Toc H and the lamp is lit before all meetings as a symbol of its core valves of Friendship, service, fair-mindedness and reconciliation.

Shot at Dawn

One of the most moving areas was dedicated to  the 306 soldiers in WW1 that were shot for desertion. The statue of Private Herbert Burden, aged 17 was shot at Ypres in 1915. 306 wooden post represent each soldier, many who were under age or suffering from Post traumatic stress disorder.The average life expectancy on the front line was only 10 weeks!

It reminded me that there are no winners or losers in war only victims!

Site of Battle of Imjin, Korea

Another special memorial to me was the British Korean Veterans Association. It is important to  remember those who continued to be involved in conflict after WW2. In 1950 the United Nations joined with South Korea to repel the advance of North Korean aggression. The Royal Gloucestershire Regiment fought in the battle of Imjin River.

I was privileged to visit the site of the battle in Korea in 1911 as part of the Bristol Methodist link.

After Lunch we  visited Cannock Chase German Military and War Cemeteries

Opened in 1967 The German Military Cemetery was opened for those German Nationals who lost their lives in the UK during both World Wars, and contains 5,000 graves, most died in POW camps, others were killed when their airships or planes crashed or sailors at sea. - most of the UK German war dead are buried here.

400 meters away Cannock Chase Commonwealth War Cemetery contains a mixture of British, German and New Zealand Soldiers, the area was also the base for the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.

I was struck as we commemorate 70 years since VE Day the words carved in a memorial plaque.

"NEVER LET WAR HAPPEN AGAIN"

However in the news tonight I hear that North Korea have developed a new missile that can be launched from submarines, and the military parades in Red Square in Moscow!