…And Airborne Forces Memorial
The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces National Memorial, which is located at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, commemorates those members of the Regiment and Airborne Forces who have died on active service since 1940 and provides a place of pilgrimage, particularly to those who have lost family members overseas in inaccessible countries.
Around one thousand people attended the dedication ceremony on Friday 13 July 2012, including His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, as the Colonel-in-Chief of The Parachute Regiment.
The five-metre-tall bronze memorial depicting Bellerophon mounted on Pegasus, with his spear in hand, together with a paratrooper pulling his Bergan up the mount to the statue, took sculptors Charlie Langton and Mark Jackson two years to complete.
Men who make it to the Pars are a special breed, and all so easily disposed of. I recall a time ‘in training’ when I had to prep the landing ground for some paras to drop onto. It had a huge bomb crater at one end and a line of trees across the middle. There would be injuries.
My DS Officer criticised my choice ( it was in fact the only choice possible) and I had to demonstrate that ‘necessary callousness’ of war by quoting the JSP3 as it was back then. In peacetime training a 15% causualty rate was acceptible: in war a 45% rate.
God Bless and keep to Himself those courageous men.
I remember way back when I was 17 I was responsible for amending documents for pre-packed publications. The pack was sent to army units as they were deployed. One of the publications was detailing the procedures during an NBC attack. It was the only publication I felt compelled to read from cover to cover.
It was quite an eye opener for a young 17 year old girl…
thank God for memorials that keep it all fresh in our minds,
lest we forget.
And for each person who put themselves in harms way
to help win and defend freedom,
my heart stands up and applauds.
-Jennifer
Thank you
We should never forget, we must remember so as not to make the same mistakes again.
With current conflicts around the globe, I think the same mistakes are being repeated…
Quite dynamic, the figure in the statue.
It captured my eye. I think this particular memorial is stunning!
There are so many sculptures in this park!
This reminded me of Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
I would love to visit that park one day.
There are many fine memorials at the arboretum. Also many more trees, it is a calm and peaceful place. A place for reflection.
A fitting memorial, not surprised it took so long to make, it’s magnificent … as is your horizon in the last photo.
Thank you
It is a magnificent sculpture and as you said a fitting memorial.