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Memorial details

Memorial type
Garden
District
Lichfield
Town
Alrewas
County
Staffordshire
Country
England
Commemoration
Korean War (1950-1953)
Ceremony
  • Dedicated
    Date: 27 July 2000
    Attended by: South Korean Ambassador to UK
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
51067

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Current location

Memorial is in Far East Zone. On the bank at the gravel works end of Yeomanry & Giffard Avenues.
National Memorial Arboretum
Croxall Road
Alrewas
Lichfield
Staffordshire
DE13 7AR
England

OS Grid Ref: SK 18176 14700
Denomination: Undefined

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Description
A memorial garden planted with 25 species of trees originating from Korea and other parts of Asia. A rough-hewn granite stone of irregular shape with a dedicatory bronze plaque affixed is the central feature of the garden. The stone is flanked on each side by four further limestone boulders, each with bronze plaques describing the significant engagements of British Commonwealth forces during the Korean War. At the entrance to the garden is a limestone boulder with an information plaque describing the history of the garden's development.
Inscription
[Central stone plaque]: BRITISH KOREAN VETERANS ASSOCIATION/ TO HONOUR THOSE BRITISH SERVICEMEN/ WHO FOUGHT IN THE KOREAN WAR,/ 25TH JUNE 1950 TO 27TH JULY 1953,/ ESPECIALLY THE 1,078 KILLED,/ 2,674 WOUNDED/ AND1,060 HELD PRISONER./ "FREEDOM IS NOT FREE"./ THIS PLAQUE AND GARDEN AREA WERE/ DEDICATED/ ON THE 27TH JULY 2000. [Stone Plaque 2]: ARMY KOREA JUNE 50-DEC 50/ 25 JUNE 50 NORTH KOREAN INVASION ACROSS THE 38TH PARALLEL/ AUG 50 8TH UNITED STATES ARMY KOREA, (BUSAK) HOLDS THE PUSAN PERIMETER./ 27TH INFANTRY BRIGADE JOINS BUSAK, MADE UP OF 1BN MIDDLESEX REGIMENT (WITH A COMPANY FROM 1 BN SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT); 1 BN ARGYLL AND/ SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS; 11TH INFANTRY WORKSHOPS ROYAL ELECTRICAL AND/ MECHANICAL ENGINEERS; 78TH COMPANY ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS;/ DETACHMENTS FROM ROYAL ARMY CATERING CORPS, ROYAL CORPS OF SIGNALS, ROYAL ARMY/ ORDNANCE CORPS, ROYAL ARMY CHAPLAINS DEPARTMENT./ ELSEWHERE DETACHMENTS FROM THE SPECIAL AIR SERVICE AND THE QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S/ ROYAL ARMY NURSING CORPS./ SEP 50 27TH INF BDE IN THE LINE WEST OF TAEGU. 1 MIDDX AND 1 ARGYLL IN BATTLES FOR THE/ RIVER NAKTONG BRIDGEHEAD. 27TH ORDNANCE FIELD PARK AND MAINTENANCE UNIT JOINS 27TH INF BDE./ 41 COMMANDO DEPLOYED FOR COASTAL OPERATIONS./ 1 US MARINE CORPS AMPHIBIOUS LANDINGS AT INCHON./ OCT 50 27TH INF BDE RENAMED 27TH COMMONWEALTH INFANTRY BRIGADE./ 1 M IDDX REINFORCEMENTS INCLUDE A COMPANY FROM 1 BN THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT/ 27TH COMWEL BDE FLOWN TO KIMPO AIRFIELD, SEOUL TO JOIN 1 US CAVALRY DIVISION/ AND ADVANCES NORTH OF THE 38TH PARALLEL./ NOV 50 29TH INFANTRY BRIGADE GROUP JOINS BUSAK, MADE UP OF/ 1 BN ROYAL NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS; 1BN GLOUCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT; 1 BN/ ROYAL ULSTER RIFLES; 8TH KING'S ROYAL IRISH HUSSARS WIH CROMWELL AND/ CENTURION TANKS; C SQUADRON, 7TH ROYAL TANK REGIMENT WITH CHURCHILL TANKS;/ 45TH FIELD REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY WITH 25-POUNDER GUN/HOWITZERS; 11TH/ "SPHINX" LIGHT BATTERY RA WITH 40MM BOFORS AA GUNS, THEN 4.2" MORTARS;/ 170TH INDEPENDENT LIGHT BATTERY RA WITH 4.2" MORTARS; 55TH FIELD SQUADRON/ ROYAL ENGINEERS; 10TH INFANTRY WORKSHOPS REME; 4TH ORDNANCE COMPOSITE/ DEPOT RAOC (INCL OFP, INF WORKSHOPS STORES, LAUNDRY AND BATH UNITS); 57TH/ COMPANY RASC; 37TH AND 39TH FIELD BAKERY PLATOONS, RASC; 75TH SUPPLY/ COMPANY, RASC; 26TH FIELD AMBULANCE ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS; 206TH/ ARMY POSTAL UNIT RE./ DETACHMENTS FROM ACC, R SIGS, ROYAL MILITARY POLICE, ROYAL ARMY PAY/ CORPS, ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS, WHOSE DOG TROOPS WORKED WITH RE,/ ROYAL PIONEER CORPS, ROYAL ARMY EDUCATION CORPS, ROYAL ARMY DENTAL/ CORPS, INTELLIGENCE CORPS./ LANDING SHIPS TANKS CONTROL UNIT; NAVY ARMY AND AIR FORCE INSTITUTE;/ EXPEDITIONARY FORCE INSTITUTE; 2ND PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE./ BUSAK ADVANCES TOWARDS THE RIVER YALU; COMMUNIST CHINA ENTERS THE WAR./ 41 COMMANDO, IN THE REARGUARD ACTION DOWN HELL FIRE VALLEY TO HAGARI, IS/ EVACUATED FROM HUNGNAM./ 1 M IDDX FIGHTS THE REARGUARD ACTION AT KUNU-RI, NORTH OF SUNCHON./ DEC 50 BUSAK WITHDRAWS SOUTHWARDS./ [Stone Plaque 3]: ARMY KOREA JAN51-AUG 52/ JAN 51 29 INF BDE IN THE REARGUARD ACTION FOR SEOUL, 1 RUR, 1RNF, THE RECCE TROOP 8 KRIH/ AND C SQN 7 RTR IN ACTION IN HAPPY VALLEY, CHUNGHUNG-DONG, SOUTHWEST OF UIJONGBU./ CHINESE AND NORTH KOREAN ARMIES ARE HELD ALONG RIVER HAN, BUSAK ADVANCES NORTH./ APR 51 29 INF BDE IN THE RIVER IMJIN BATTLES (1 GLOUCS, 1 RNF, 1 RUR, C SQN 8TH HUSSARS,/ 170 INDEP LT BY RA, 45 FD REGT RA, 11 "SPHINX" 1ST AA BY RA, 55 FD SQN RE);/ 27 COMWEL INF BDE IN BATTLES NEAR KAPYONG (1 MIDDX). SEOUL DENIED TO AN EXHAUSTED/ CHINESE ARMY. 27 RENAMED 28 COMWEL INF BDE. 1 BN KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS/ RELIEVES 1 ARGYLLS./ MAY 51 1 BN KING'S SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY RELIEVES 1 MIDDX./ JUL 51 1ST COMMONWEALTH DIVISION FORMED FROM 25 CANADIAN, 28 COMWEL AND 29 INFANTRY/ BRIGADES. 8TH HUSSARS ASSUMES THE ROLE OF I COMWEL DIV ARMOURED REGIMENT./ 1 COMWEL DIV SIGNALS REGIMENT FORMED, WITH DETACHMENT OF TROOPS AT REGIMENTAL (IE INFANTRY, ARTILLERY), BRIGADE AND DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS, RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMAND/ RADIO AND LAND-LINE NETWORKS./ 28 FIELD ENGINEER REGT RE FORMED FROM 55 AND 12 FIELD SQUADRONS RE AND 64 FIELD/ PARK SQUADRON RE. 16 BRITISH COMMONWEALTH INFANTRY WORKSHOPS REME FORMED./ OCT 51 'OPERATION COMMANDO' BATTLES FOR PTS 210 AND 227 BY1 KSLI; FOR MARYANG-SAN (PT 317);/ BY 1 RNF, CLOSELY SUPPORTED BY A SQN 8TH HUSSARS; FOR PT 217 BY 1 RNF AND FOR/ KOWANG-SAN (PT 355) BY 1 KOSB; BOTH SUPPORTED BY A AND B SQNS 8TH HUSSARS. / 1 BN ROYAL NORFOLK REGIMENT RELIEVES 1 RUR; 1 BN ROYAL LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT/ RELIEVES 1 RNF. C SQN 7 RTR LEAVES KOREA./ NOV 51 SECOND BATTLES AND LOSSES OF THE MARYANG-SAN RIDGE (1 KOSB) AND PT 227 (1 KSLI),/ IN SPITE OF CLOSE SUPPORT BY A AND B SQNS 8TH HUSSARS. 1 BN THE WELCH REGIMENT/ RELIEVES 1 GLOUCS; 14 FIELD REGIMENT RA RELIEVES 45 FD REGT RA; 42 LIGHT BATTERY RA/ RELIEVES 11 "SPHINX" LT BY RA; 120 LIGHT BATTERY RA RELIEVES 170 LT BY RA./ MEMBERS OF THE WOMEN'S VOLUNTARY SERVICE JOIN 1 COMWEL DIV BASE CAMP AT PUSAN;/ THEY LATER RAN THE CLUB AT THE REST CENTRE, INCHON./ DEC 51 5TH INNISKILLING DRAGOON GUARDS RELIEVES 8TH KING'S ROYAL IRISH HUSSARS./ JAN 52 15TH LOCATING (SHORT BASE SOUND RANGING)/LIGHT AA BATTERY RA JOINS 1 COMWEL DIV./ FEB 52 61ST LIGHT REGIMENT RA FORMED FROM 42, 120 AND 248 LIGHT BATTERIES RA AND/ 15 LOC/LAA BTY RA./ JUN 52 1 BN THE BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLAND REGIMENT) RELIEVES 1ST R. LEICS./ AUG 52 1 BN ROYAL FUSILIERS (CITY OF LONDON REGIMENT) RELIEVES 1 KOSB./ [Stone Plaque 4]: ARMY KOREA SEP 52-JUL 53/ SEP 52 1 BN DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY RELIEVES 1 KSLI; 1 BN THE KING'S (LIVERPOOL)/ REGIMENT RELIEVES 1 R. NORFOLKS./ OCT 52 1 BN THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S REGIMENT RELIEVES 1 WELCH./ NOV 52 1 BW DEFENDS THE HOOK RIDGE./ DEC 52 1ST ROYAL TANK REGIMENT RELIEVES 5 DG; 20TH FIELD REGIMENT RA RELIEVES/ 14 FD REGT RA./ JAN 53 1 COMWEL DIV GOES INTO 1 CORPS RESERVE, EXCEPT ITS ARTILLERY REGIMENTS AND/ SUPPORT UNITS WHICH STAY IN THE LINE TO SUPPORT 2ND US INFANTRY DIVISION - "THE/ INDIANHEAD"./ FEB 53 74TH MEDIUM BATTERY RA, WITH 5.5" GUNS, JOINS 1 COMWEL DIV./ APR 53 1 COMWEL DIV RETURNS TO THE LINE AND RELIEVES 2ND US INF DIV./ MAY 53 1 DWR DEFENDS THE HOOK RIDGE./ JUL 53 1 BN THE ROYAL SCOTS RELIEVES 1 BW./ 27 JUL 53 ARMISTICE SIGNED AT PANMUNJOM: CEASE FIRE 22.00 HOURS./ BUSAK WITHDRAWS TO THE "KANSAS LINE" SOUTH OF THE R. IMJIN AND OF THE 10/ MILE WIDE DEMILITARISED ZONE./ ROYAL AIR FORCE KOREA 1950-1953/ 88, 205, 209 SQUADRONS OF SUNDERLANDS FROM IWAKUNI, JAPAN./ 1903 AIR OBSERVATION POST FLIGHT OF AUSTERS WITH ROYAL ARTILLERY PILOTS./ 1913 LIGHT LIAISON FLIGHT OF AUSTERS WITH GLIDER PILOT REGIMENT PILOTS./ FIGHTER PILOTS ATTACHED TO US AND AUSTRALIAN SQUADRONS OF F-80 SHOOTING STARS, F-84 THUNDERJETS, F-86 SABREJETS AND METEORS./ SPECIAL ADVISERS SKILLED IN:/ AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION/ GROUND ATTACK BY NIGHT./ [Stone Plaque 5]: ROYAL NAVY AND FLEET AIR ARM KOREA 1950-1953/ HEADQUARTERS SHIP, SASSEBO, JAPAN/ HMS ALERT JUN-SEP 50/ LADYBIRD (EX SS WUSUEH) SEP 50-APR 53/ TYNE APR 53-JUL 53/ AIRCRAFT CARRIERS/ HMS GLORY, OCEAN, THESEUS, TRIUMPH, UNICORN/ WITH FLEET AIR ARM SQUADRONS 800, 801, 802, 804, 805, 807, 808, 810, 812,/ 817, 821, 825, 827, 898, FLYING SEAFIRES, SEA FURIES AND FIREFLIES./ CRUISERS/ HMS BELFAST, BIRMINGHAM, CEYLON, JAMAICA, KENYA, NEWCASTLE./ DESTROYERS/ HMS CHAIRTY, COCKADE, COMUS, CONCORD, CONSORT, CONSTANCE, COSSACK/ FRIGATES/ HMS ALACRITY, ALERT, AMETHYST, BLACK SWAN, CARDIGAN BAY, CRANE, HART, MODESTE,/ MORECAMBE BAY, MOUNTS BAY, OPOSSUM, ST BRIDES BAY, SPARROW,/ WHITESAND BAY./ HOSPITAL SHIP/ HMHS MAINE WITH A DETACHMENT FROM THE QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S ROYAL NAVY/ NURSING SERVICE./ SUBMARINE/ HMS TELEMACHUS/ SUPPLY VESSELS OF THE ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY/ RFA WAVE BARON, WAVE CHIEF, WAVE CONQUEROR, WAVE KNIGHT, WAVE LAIRD,/ WAVE PREMIER, WAVE PRINCE, WAVE REGENT, WAVE SOVEREIGN, BROWN RANGER,/ GREEN RANGER, FORT CHARLOTTE, FORT LANGLEY, FORT ROSALIE, FORT SANDUSKY./ CHOYSANG, ECHODALE./ SURVEY SHIP/ HMS DAMPIER/ ROYAL MARINES/ 41ST INDEPENDENT MARINE COMMANDO SEP50-DEC 51/ MERCHANT NAVY KOREA 1950-1953/ CREWS SERVED ON THE "EMPIRE" TROOPERS AND ON OTHER LINERS CHARTERED FOR TROOP CARRYING/ TO PUSAN. THEY CREWED CARGO SHIPS LOADED WITH TANKS, GUNS, VEHICLES, AMMUNITION,/ PETROL/OIL/LUBRICANTS, REFRIGERATED GOODS AND GENERAL STORES, CHARTERED TO REPLENISH/ BRITISH, COMMONWEALTH AND US FORCES. HEAVY-LIFT VESSELS CARRIED US TANKS TO INCHON/ AFTER THE LANDINGS IN SEP 50. [Entrance stone plaque]: [British and South Korean flags]/ IN THE MID-1990S MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH KOREAN VETERANS ASSOCIATION PROPOSED CREATING/ "A LIVING MEMORIAL" TO THOSE WHO HAD GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN SUPPORT OF THE UNITED/ NATIONS' DECISION TO OPPOSE THE SPREAD OF COMMUNISM THROUGHOUT THE ANCIENT KINGDOM OF KOREA./ A DEDICATED TEAM SUCCESSFULLY ORGANISED THE RAISING OF THE SUM REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH A MEMORIAL/ GARDEN OF ABOUT 1 ACRE WITHIN THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM. THE GARDEN WAS DESIGNED AND/ LAID OUT BETWEEN MARCH AND JULY 2000 BY EIGHT VETERANS. THE DEDICATION SERVICE WAS HELD ON/ 27TH JULY 2000, THE 47TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CEASE FIRE AND ARMISTICE TO END THE KOREAN WAR./ THE LIMESTONE BOULDERS WERE OBTAINED FROM A QUARRY NEAR (...) DERBYSHIRE. THE BRONZE/ PLAQUES WERE CAST IN A FOUNDRY AT LLANRHAEADR-YM-MOCHNANT, POWYS. A 30 METRE DIAMETER MOUND/ WAS PLANTED WITH SHRUBS AND TREES TO REPRESENT THE RED AND BLUE YIN-YANG, THE ORIENTAL/ PHILOSOPHICAL SYMBOL, WHICH APPEARS ON THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA'S NATIONAL FLAG. THE YIN-YANG/ MOUND PROVED DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN. IN APRIL 2006 IT WAS LEVELLED; LAND DRAINS WERE LAID; THE AREA/ WAS GRASSED OVER AND MORE TREES WERE PLANTED. THE SHALE AND GRAVEL PATHS WERE ALSO GRASSED/ OVER. ON 27 JULY 2006 THIS BOULDER, WITH A PLAQUE OF THE KOREAN FLAG, THE TAEGEUKGI, WAS DEDICATED BY/ THE KOREAN AMBASSADOR, TO MARK THE CONTINUING LINK BETWEEN BRITISH VETERANS AND THE SOUTH/ KOREAN PEOPLE. THE FLAG'S DESIGN SYMBOLISES THE PRINCIPLES OF THE YIN AND YANG IN ORIENTAL/ PHILOSOPHY. THE CIRCLE AT THE CENTRE OF THE FLAG IS DIVIDED INTO TWO EQUAL PARTS. THE UPPER RED/ SECTION REPRESENTS THE POSITIVE COSMIC FORCES OF THE YANG. CONVERSELY, THE LOWER BLUE SECTION/ REPRESENTS THE NEGATIVE COSMIC FORCES OF THE YIN. THE TWO FORCES TOGETHER EMBODY THE CONCEPTS OF/ CONTINUAL MOVEMENT, BALANCE AND HARMONY THAT CHARACTERISE THE SPHERE OF INFINITY. THE CIRCLE IS/ SURROUNDED BY FOUR TRIGRAMS, ONE IN EACH CORNER, SYMBOLISING THE FOUR UNIVERSAL ELEMENTS OF/ HEAVEN, EARTH, FIRE AND WATER./ THE PLANTING OF MORE THAN A HUNDRED TREES, PREDOMINANTLY OF ASIAN OR KOREAN ORIGIN, CONTINUED/ FROM 2000 TO 2009, WHEN THE ARBORETUM TOOK OVER THE GARDEN'S MAINTENANCE FROM THE "GARDEN/ PARTY" OF VETERANS./ BY 2009, THE GARDEN LAYOUT HAD BEEN RE-ALIGNED SO THAT THE VISTA UP GIFFARD AVENUE CENTRED ON THE/ BVKA MEMORIAL. THE MEMORIAL COMPRISES THE GRANITE BOULDER FROM CROFT QUARRY, LEICESTERSHIRE,/ BEARING THE DEDICATION PLAQUE, AND THE FOUR LIMESTONE BOULDERS WITH THE PLAQUES SETTING OUT THE/ KEY ELEMENTS OF THE KOREAN WAR.
Inscription legible?
yes
Commemorations
  • Korean War (1950-1953)
    Total names on memorial: 0
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 0
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: Undefined
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Plaques
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Bronze
  • Stone of remembrance
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Granite
  • Other structure
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone - Limestone
  • Stone of remembrance
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Stone - Limestone
  • Garden
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Undefined
Listing information
Condition
History
April 2006: re-landscaping of the garden
Costs

Comments: The Garden was laid out, planted and maintained from 2000 to 2010 by a ‘Garden Party’ of veterans who wished to create a ‘Living Memorial’ to all British Servicemen who served, or were casualties, during the Korean War.

Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Sponsorship
Corporate
Responsibility
National Memorial Arboretum
Reference

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement:

© WMR-51067

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