Several blogs in this space over past few months and more have told of the British Paving Stones being erected and unveiled in many parts of the world. The program mentioned was a part of a bigger program to bring our thoughts again to those who went off to war, and came home with the word-wide recognized, and envied, Victoria Cross.
Blogs told of the first thoughts to limit the efforts to just those born in the Britain and Ireland, and further to limit these memorial stones to just those earned during the Great War. Public outcry demanded recognition not only of VC recipients from all wars, but also those not born in Britian. They were heard... and even better... listened to. The revisited plans now have all being recognized... but the non WWl recipients will be done at a later date. The WWl recipient markers are going ahead, but these now also incude those recipients from 19 other countries of the world. Past blogs also told of the 19 plaques, listing numerous names, having now been sent abroad. Before Christmas one had been unveiled at Washington DC. Within days a second was unveiled at Ottawa. Both being unveiled by HRH Princess Anne, her husband and other dignitaries.
But the program did not stop there!
Blogs told of the first thoughts to limit the efforts to just those born in the Britain and Ireland, and further to limit these memorial stones to just those earned during the Great War. Public outcry demanded recognition not only of VC recipients from all wars, but also those not born in Britian. They were heard... and even better... listened to. The revisited plans now have all being recognized... but the non WWl recipients will be done at a later date. The WWl recipient markers are going ahead, but these now also incude those recipients from 19 other countries of the world. Past blogs also told of the 19 plaques, listing numerous names, having now been sent abroad. Before Christmas one had been unveiled at Washington DC. Within days a second was unveiled at Ottawa. Both being unveiled by HRH Princess Anne, her husband and other dignitaries.
But the program did not stop there!
Above are two images of the National Memorial Arboretum located not far from London at Staffordshire. Dedicated by HRH Queen Elizaveth ll back in 2007 it honours the lost service men and women covering over 50 different wars and actions since WW11. The property is spread over over some 150 acres, and is home for over 75 different memorials. The above war memorial is where over 15,000 names of the lost men and women are engraved on the inside walls of this massive structure spanning 43 meters at its diameter.
It would be here that those being remembered would be expanded to honor the VC recipients of WWl who were non British born.
It would be here that those being remembered would be expanded to honor the VC recipients of WWl who were non British born.
While the British government had already sent off 19 plaques in honour of those not British born, to their home countries, the government had also chosen to recognize these true war heroes in England as well. They would create an individual paving stone for each of these 145 men and erect all in one place. And that place would be in the forground of the above National Memorial Arboretum.
Picture here is Lance Sergeant Johnson Beharry, proudly wearing his Victoria Cross. (On left of the 4 medals as you view the picture.) Back in May of 2004 his actions, while then a Private in Iraq, earned him a VC, which was awarded on 18 March 2005.
His Victoria Cross was the first issued that was not posthumous, since back in 1969 when Keith Payne received his VC. (Keith's name is not new to regular readers of these blogs.) Beharry is about to unveil the title stone for the 145 others also about to be dedicated at the memorial. The date was March 5th, just over a month ago. It was exactly 13 days less than a decade ago that Beharry was awarded his VC. Prime Minister David Cameron looks on as the stone is being unveiled. Dignitaries from several countries attended, including representation from both Canada and the United States.
Picture here is Lance Sergeant Johnson Beharry, proudly wearing his Victoria Cross. (On left of the 4 medals as you view the picture.) Back in May of 2004 his actions, while then a Private in Iraq, earned him a VC, which was awarded on 18 March 2005.
His Victoria Cross was the first issued that was not posthumous, since back in 1969 when Keith Payne received his VC. (Keith's name is not new to regular readers of these blogs.) Beharry is about to unveil the title stone for the 145 others also about to be dedicated at the memorial. The date was March 5th, just over a month ago. It was exactly 13 days less than a decade ago that Beharry was awarded his VC. Prime Minister David Cameron looks on as the stone is being unveiled. Dignitaries from several countries attended, including representation from both Canada and the United States.
Here is an image of the title stone for the 145 men awarded the VC in WWl and Prime Minister Cameron placing a wreath on one of these stones.
The stone's design was selected after a national contest was held earlier, (and covered in another blog). You can use the site search engine to read more on this.
The stone's design was selected after a national contest was held earlier, (and covered in another blog). You can use the site search engine to read more on this.
A pathway of these memorial paving stones lies parallel to the walkway up to the Arboretum. In this image are the stones for 15 recipients. I was fascinated to find this image on the net as there are not many. In this one I noted that at the upper left, second in is the stone honoring the Indian recipient Chatta Singh. This hero earned his VC in 1916 for braving enemy shells and shots for hours at a place now know as Iraq. One of the fellows he saved had several wounds and Singh had to use his body to protect the injured soldier for almost five hours. The wounded man was and officer and medical doctor to boot. Both men survived and Singh came away with a VC. Just days later the officer he saved went on to show his own incredible heroism and would later also be awarded the VC. He too also went out repeatedly to treat and bring in the wounded. And had he not been saved days earlier, needless to say, he would not have himself become the hero that he did.
And folks, that officer was John Sinton, a Captain at the time and a much later Brigadiere General. And a man who was born in Victoria BC Canada. His story was told in several earlier blogs here as well. Sinton became the only man IN THE WORLD entitled to use the initials VC and FRS after his name. Search this site to read more on his incredible story.
And folks, that officer was John Sinton, a Captain at the time and a much later Brigadiere General. And a man who was born in Victoria BC Canada. His story was told in several earlier blogs here as well. Sinton became the only man IN THE WORLD entitled to use the initials VC and FRS after his name. Search this site to read more on his incredible story.
Here are the 145 stones lining the pathway up to the National Memorial in mid ground in the image. Several more images of paving stones are shown to the right. Note the one in the upper right for Lt. Colonel Philip Bent, a VC recipient for bravery in action in Belgium in 1917. He was leading a charge when the 26 year old acting Colonel of his regiment was shot down and killed. He was born at Halifax Nova Scotia.
A museum in England most interested in Colonel Bent was one of the forerunners of groups pushing the government to re-examine the original narrower program of honoring recipients, as above mentioned.
A museum in England most interested in Colonel Bent was one of the forerunners of groups pushing the government to re-examine the original narrower program of honoring recipients, as above mentioned.
Here is a shot of all of the 145 markers for those not born in Britain that were awarded the Victoria Cross. Note the title marker in the foreground.
Past blogs have also told that over 400 individual markers are being unveiled across Britain. Each is supposed to be unveiled on the 100th anniversary of the very day when the deed was perfomed resulting in the VC being awarded. If you click here....
http://communities.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=0b2f67b7d3d842d9920171e4c10318ec
you will get to the above map of England. By clicking on the purple star you will be taken to a site that tells the story of the 145 stones above noted. About 50 have been unveiled so far. If you click on any one of the red dots you will be taken to the name of a VC recipient from that area of the map where a stone was unveiled in 2014 and get a brief description of the hero's deed. By clicking on "more information" you will be taken to another window giving even more info on the man and often a very large and impressive photo of the soldier. The blue dots will take you to the stones unveiled this year. The map is said to be one that will continue to be updated as more stones are unveiled.
One of these to be unveiled in May is for Sergeant Major Frederick Hall, one of three VC recipients who lived on what was once called Pine Street in Winnipeg. Now of course it is known in their honour, as Valour Road.
By clicking on the red dot (Hmmmm!) just slightly above and to the left of London on the map you should end up telling a little about fellow Canadian Cecil Kinross, a man born in Britain but later relocating to Western Canada. His actions in Passchendaele in 1917 earned him the VC. His stone ought not to have been unveiled till 2017, but for some reason was done earlier.
Next Sunday I will bring you yet more info on how a British company is honouring several Victoria Cross recipients... including one from Canada.
Hope to see you then.
Bart
Past blogs have also told that over 400 individual markers are being unveiled across Britain. Each is supposed to be unveiled on the 100th anniversary of the very day when the deed was perfomed resulting in the VC being awarded. If you click here....
http://communities.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=0b2f67b7d3d842d9920171e4c10318ec
you will get to the above map of England. By clicking on the purple star you will be taken to a site that tells the story of the 145 stones above noted. About 50 have been unveiled so far. If you click on any one of the red dots you will be taken to the name of a VC recipient from that area of the map where a stone was unveiled in 2014 and get a brief description of the hero's deed. By clicking on "more information" you will be taken to another window giving even more info on the man and often a very large and impressive photo of the soldier. The blue dots will take you to the stones unveiled this year. The map is said to be one that will continue to be updated as more stones are unveiled.
One of these to be unveiled in May is for Sergeant Major Frederick Hall, one of three VC recipients who lived on what was once called Pine Street in Winnipeg. Now of course it is known in their honour, as Valour Road.
By clicking on the red dot (Hmmmm!) just slightly above and to the left of London on the map you should end up telling a little about fellow Canadian Cecil Kinross, a man born in Britain but later relocating to Western Canada. His actions in Passchendaele in 1917 earned him the VC. His stone ought not to have been unveiled till 2017, but for some reason was done earlier.
Next Sunday I will bring you yet more info on how a British company is honouring several Victoria Cross recipients... including one from Canada.
Hope to see you then.
Bart
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