Shot at Dawn

On our way home from the Forest of Dean today, we called in at a place I have wanted to visit for some time, the National Memorial Arboretum.  The Memorial which affected me greatly was tucked away in the eastern part of the garden which is the first to be touched by the dawn light.  'Shot at Dawn' was created by Andy De Comyn and it commemorates the 1306 British and Commonwealth soldiers 'who were shot for desertion, cowardice, striking a senior officer, disobeying a lawful order, casting away arms and sleeping at post' (Taken from the Arboretum Guidebook).  The statue is based on one of those soldiers, Herbert Burden who was shot at Ypres in 1915, aged 17. 'It is recognised that several of them were under age when they volunteered and that many of them were suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, not recognised as a medical condition until 1980.'

There are six trees facing the posts which represent the firing squad.  'After the 75 year Secrecy Act was lifted, members of the Shot at Dawn organisation started campaigning for pardons.'

The Memorial Arboretum is a lovely place to visit and we will be returning as we were unable to spend the time to see all of the memorials.  We would also like to focus another time on the trees themselves, perhaps on a summer visit.

My other photos from the day are here.