The Corps Memorial

The Corps of Royal Engineers Memorial

National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire

 

The Corps of Royal Engineers has opened a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire to commemorate all those sappers who have fallen in the line of duty.

It was a fine May morning in 2007 as the Chief Royal Engineer General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue KCB CBE led the opening ceremony conducted by the Right Reverend David Smith former Bishop to the Armed Forces.

The opening ceremony was attended by 500 guests including Colonels Commandants (Serving and Retired), VIPs, Senior Officers and all ranks including 83 REA Standards, representatives from most REA Branches, Chelsea Pensioners and the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers.

The central concept of the memorial is four imposing granite rocks each weighing approximately 10 tonnes the rocks were presented to the Corps by the especially for use in this memorial. These four large random blocks of granite presented a challenge of how they could be physically and visually bought together to form an appropriate and satisfying memorial.

The finished design by Dr Richard Kindersley was to place the four stones in a circle on concrete foundations and floated off flush with the grass each stone is raised 150mm above its foundation on four stainless steel dowels making the huge blocks apparently float above ground level. They provide an interesting visual metaphor of the ability of the Sapper to intervene in, and control, the physical and geographical environment.

During the planning process it soon became apparent that the plot had a drainage problem and was prone to flooding this had to be rectified before any work on the memorial could begin. The drainage issues were soon dealt with and the end result is a uniquely fitting memorial to the stoic Royal Engineers who regularly overcome seemingly insurmountable natural and manmade barriers with our armoury of specialist knowledge and skills.

The Ceremony concluded with three volleys shot by a firing party from 170 (Infrastructure Support Group), General Sir KevinO'Donoghue quotes, "What a spectacular event and the memorial is outstanding."

 

All Sappers are encouraged to visit the Corps Memorial and are also encouraged to visit the other plots at the National Memorial Arboretum, near Alrewas in Staffordshire.

 

 

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