Ministry of Defence
Printable version E-mail this to a friend

Dedication of Fleet Air Arm Memorial at the National Arboretum

Dedication of Fleet Air Arm Memorial at the National Arboretum

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 10 September 2009

Members of the media are invited to a ceremony to dedicate a new Royal Navy memorial in remembrance of the many men and women who have served in the Royal Naval Air Service and Fleet Air Arm be held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire on Friday 11 September 2009 at 12.00 noon.

This year the Royal Navy is celebrating the Centenary of Naval aviation and the new memorial will honour the sacrifice made by the 6,749 men and women who have given their lives in the service of Naval aviation over the past 100 years. The dedication service will include a fly past of two GR9 Harrier jets of the Naval Strike Wing who served in Afghanistan last year providing air support to the Royal Marines and coalition forces on the ground.

Over 80% of front line Fleet Air Arm Squadrons are currently deployed on operations around the world including Afghanistan, and the service is expected to be especially poignant as the Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm remember fallen colleagues.

The new memorial, a sculptured plinth of Portland stone supporting a granite aircraft carrier, is set amidst an avenue of fine old English oak trees close to the National Armed Forces Memorial. The event will take the form of a dedication service in the open air around the new memorial. The service will be conducted by the Chaplain of the Fleet, the Venerable John Green, and will be attended by 700 people made up of both serving and retired personnel and their families. A Naval Guard from HMS Sultan, Gosport will be in attendance along with Fleet Air Arm Standard Bearers from the Fleet Air Arm Associations and serving and retired officers in uniform. The address will be given by Rear Admiral Simon Charlier, Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

The National Memorial Arboretum is located between Birmingham and Derby just off the A38 north of Lichfield and south of Burton on Trent. The address is Croxall Road, Alrewas, Staffordshire DE13 7AR. Members of the media are asked to be in place by 11.30. The Fly past will take place at 12.00 and the dedication service will start at 12.00. Opportunities for interviews with serving members and veterans of the Fleet Air Arm will be available following the service.

Members of the media wishing to attend are asked to provide full accreditation and contact details to sue.eagles@flynavy100.co.uk or mob: 07500126396.

Contacts:

Ministry of Defence
NDS.MOD@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Spotlight on women at Serco – Anita’s story