The Armed Forces Memorial
The Armed Forces Memorial (AFM), dedicated in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen on 12 October 2007, is a nationally significant focus for remembrance, providing recognition and thanks for those who have given their lives in the service of the country since the two World Wars.
Please note that the AFM will be closed to the public on Tuesday 11 November from 10.00 am till 12.30pm for the Armistice Day commemoration.
The Memorial is a stunning piece of architecture designed by Liam O'Connor which draws its inspiration from the ancient landscapes of prehistoric Britain and the classical forms of ancient Rome. It consists of a large 6 metre high earth mound, reducing from 100 metres wide at the base to just 50 metres wide at the top and based on early British barrows or tumuli. The spiralling walkway up the grassy, tree-planted slopes provides accessibility to people of all ages and mobility.
At the top of the mound stands a 43 metre diameter stone structure with two curved walls and two straight walls, constructed of 200,000 bricks faced with Portland stone panels. The panels contain the names of those honoured by the Memorial. In the centre of this structure is bronze wreath, flanked by two evocative bronze sculptures.
More images can be viewed in the AFM Photo Gallery
Why the Memorial is so important
The Memorial was constructed to provide recognition of the men and women of our Armed and Merchant Services who have lost their lives in conflict as a result of terrorist action or on training exercises since the end of the Second World War. Unlike the World War memorials in towns and villages across the nations, there is nowhere that records the names of those who have been killed on duty since 1945.
During this period the men and women of the Armed and Merchant Services have taken part in more than 50 operations and conflicts across the world, often as part of United Nations, NATO or other international coalitions. These actions have ranged from hot war to peacekeeping; from humanitarian assistance to fighting terrorism; from the jungles of Malaysia to the storms of the South Atlantic; from the streets of Aden to the streets of Northern Ireland.
It is not just Service men and women who have made sacrifices. Behind every name on the Memorial there are the wives, husbands, partners, parents, children and colleagues who loved them and who live with the pain and consequences of their loss every day.
View a video of the Memorial and what it means to many (hosted on The Royal British Legion website).
The theatres of conflict where the United Kingdom Armed Forces have served since the Second World War include:
| Palestine 1945-48 | Peshawar 1989-90 |
| Malaya 1948-60 | Namibia 1989-90 |
| Yangtze 1949 | Gulf 1990-91 |
| Korea 1950-53 | Kuwait 1991 |
| Canal Zone 1951-54 | Irag/Kuwait 1991-2003 |
| Kenya 1952-1956 | Western Sahara 1991 to present day |
| Cyprus 1955-1959 | Northern Iraq/Southern Turkey 1991 |
| Suez 1956 | Cambodia 1991-93 |
| Arabian Peninsula 1957-60 | Former Yugoslavia 1992-2002 |
| Congo 1964-69 | Sarajevo 1993-98 |
| Brunei 1962-64 | Georgia 1993 to present day |
| Borneo 1962-66 | Rwanda 1993-98 |
| Cyprus 1964 to present day | Angola 1997 |
| Radfan 1964 | Croatia 1996-98 |
| South Arabia 1964-67 | Kosovo 1998-2002 |
| Malay Peninsula 1964-65 | Sierra Leone 1999-2002 |
| Northern Ireland 1969-2007 | Congo 1999 to present day |
| Dhofar 1969-78 | Kosovo 1999-2007 |
| Rhodesia 1979-80 | East Timor 1999 |
| South Atlantic 1982 | Ethiopia & Eritrea 2000 to present day |
| Lebanon 1983-84 | Macedonia 2001-02 |
| Gulf of Suez 1984 | Afghanistan 2001 to present day |
| Gulf 1988-89 | Iraq 2003 to present day |
