The Wall

The idea
The premise of the Wall of Remembrance was originally as a means of funding the purchase of an extensive WW1/WW2 collection, which would then be housed in one of Avril's barns in the northern complex, once the necessary modifications had been made to the building. This has now been achieved through other financial means, and Avril has realised her dream that the Wall will represent her strongest wish. Namely that her whole establishment should exist to promote the sense of Remembrance.

Purpose
The Wall acts as a memorial to ALL the servicemen and servicewomen who joined up to take their part in the struggle that was the Great War, regardless of nationality. It is also a marvellous opportunity to commemorate those who survived the war, only to return to a ‘normality’ that couldn’t or wouldn’t understand what they had experienced.
Some of these may have been reduced to being buried in a pauper’s grave once their time had come. Other more fortunate veterans may have a decent, marked grave, but no public recognition of their efforts. These are now the ‘forgotten people’ of the Great War; here is a chance to say ‘thank you’. Of course, the Wall is also for the people that died in the cause, people whose efforts are remembered elsewhere.
The Wall is the place where all these people can be commemorated together.

Site
The Wall of Remembrance is located on the outside of the barn that houses the WW1/WW2 Museum Collection. The rendered walls have been painted white, and provide a soft background to the marble plaques, each engraved with the nominated serviceman’s or servicewoman’s details.
When one wall is completed, the next will become available as necessary. If the first building reaches its maximum number of plaques, then another building will be used to carry on the act of commemoration.

Official Opening
This took place 1st July 2008,and was opened by the well known author Martin Middlebrook on the same day that the Museum was opened by Major & Mrs Holt.

Updates
A full list of plaques erected can be found on this site here.
It is also the intention that the growing number of plaques on the Wall will be photographed periodically, so everyone will be able to see where their plaque has been placed on the Wall, and how the Wall is developing.

Finances
Any small profits from the Wall are used to maintain both itself and the museum. Beyond that, any surplus money would support turning the whole of the northern complex into a living history museum, with a Conference Centre, reproduction trenches etc. Any further funds would be used in the pursuit of Great War Remembrance.


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