National Memorial Arboretum

The National Memorial Arboretum was the brainchild of Commander David Childs, who wished to establish a national focus for remembrance. Amongst the 300 memorials in the Arboretum is the Normandy Campaign Memorial, measuring 9m long. Its design is based on the view the invasion troops had of the Normandy coastline on that fateful day in June 1944.

The Normandy Campaign Memorial was built in 2014 to mark the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. This powerful symbol, made entirely of granite, represents the enormity of the task the Allies faced in invading Nazi-occupied France, a campaign that took the lives of more than 4,000 British, U.S. and Canadian soldiers on the first day of the battle. The memorial provides a permanent place of reflection for those who gave so much in ensuring the success of the operation. The invasion of Normandy established a foothold in France for the Allies and would eventually lead to an end of the war in Europe.

The memorial is located within the Arboretum, a site of around 150 acres. The Arboretum is home to 30,000 trees, a living and growing tribute that will forever acknowledge the personal sacrifices made by the Armed Forces and civil services of the United Kingdom. Officially opened to the public in May 2001, the trees and more than 300 dedicated memorials provide visitors with an opportunity to reflect and remember those sacrifices within a beautiful and peaceful environment. The Ministry of Defence pays a significant grant-in-aid to allow for free entry to the Arboretum. The site is the focus for the Nation's year-round Remembrance through the Royal British Legion.