Took Paul, my cousin, to the National Memorial Aboretum today, he had never been before. A fabulous day, strolling slowly around the 150 acres, looking closely at memorials that attracted our attention and talking family stuff.
This memorial is still by far the most moving for me and I believe it was for Paul also. Paul’s father flew 33 Operational bombing missions as a Navigator in Lancasters from RAF Wickenby (4 miles from our house) during WW2 and undoubtedly suffered from PTSD in his later life.
The Shot at Dawn Memorial is a monument at the National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas, in Staffordshire, England. It commemorates the 306 British Army and Commonwealth soldiers executed after courts-martial for desertion and other capital offences during World War I. The memorial is situated at the far Eastern edge of the Arboretum and is the very first memorial to get sunlight in the morning.
The war is fought by fat cats surrounded by a pack of protection and hiding their sons from the army. And for an ordinary soldier on both sides of the front, it is a tragedy. I did not know that such a place as this existed, but it is good that it does.
So moving…..those poor men to be killed for such perceived demeanours…..it was unforgivable! In those days there would be shame on their poor family too. Interesting to read if the PTSD suffered by Paul’s father. My father was a navigator in the same circumstances but he died aged 57 but my mum always thought he was showing signs of that although never openly discussed.
@happypat - I don’t think you can, even today, experience events like these men, my uncle and your father, did and not be affected. Carole would tell you that I also have been due to my experiences in Bosnia during their war. I wholeheartedly agree with what @monicac said.
Great capture. We were there last week, a few years since we’d last been, and there were quite a few new memorials. So many that we didn’t get round all of them and plan to go back in a couple of months.
