National Memorial Arboretum

The National Memorial Arbortum is a UK registered charity and has 150-acre visitor site on the edge of the National Forest in Staffordshire. Part of the Royal British Legion, but a separate legal body, they exist to ensure that:

• the unique contribution of those who have served and sacrificed is never forgotten
• the baton of Remembrance is passed on through the generations
• there is a year-round space to celebrate lives lived and commemorate lives lost.

All images have been kindly provided by and are copyright ©National Memorial Arboretum

To find out more then please visit https://thenma.org.uk

The Submariners Association have had a Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum since the early days of the Arboretum being opened.

Over the years the rules on Memorial design have changed leading to many new and eye catching Memorials for different sections of the Armed Forces. The wider Submarine Community have for some time talked about having their own Memorial at the Arboretum.

In 2019 there was a movement to do just that and, in 2020 the Submariner Memorial Appeal was launched.

The Submariner Memorial Appeal is a registered charity in its own right, and has been put together to design, cost commission and maintain a Submariner Memorial to be sited in the National Memorial Arboretum.

For further information please visit https://www.submarinermemorial.uk

Submariner Memorial Appeal Update

After running a public competition the winning entries were used to inspire three carefully selected professional sculptors who competed for the commission to design and build the new memorial.  The winner, Paul Day who designed the Iraq Afghan War Memorial and many others, presented an idea which drew on the core themes from the  winning entries: the idea of going into a boat, looking up to the sky above, the families waiting for their loved one to come home and the sacrifices made.  The Friends of the RN Submarine Museum are donating a digital Submarine Book of Remembrance which will be linked to the memorial by a QR code, in due course this will be made available to all of the submarine memorials around the country and perhaps beyond.

Fundraising is now going on apace with over 20% of the £375,000 needed already raised, largely through the generosity of our community.  In the months ahead the drive continues with industry, charities and trusts being approached together with many sponsored events being planned by serving and veteran submariners. If sufficient is raised this year then the Memorial will be opened by HRH The Duke of Cambridge in 2022, if not then the following year.

For further information please visit https://www.submarinermemorial.uk/memorial-gallery