Twenty-three volunteers from the team dedicated 92 on site hours at the Arboretum, in contribution to the renovation of the Shot at Dawn memorial, a poignant site that honours the 309 Commonwealth soldiers that were executed for alleged cowardice and desertion during World War 1. Today, it is recognised that many of them were suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which was not recognised as a medical condition until 1980. In 2006 they were officially pardoned by the British Government.
The team undertook various tasks, including the removal of over 300 wooden posts, excavation of concrete, and trench digging around the site, in preparation of fresh materials for groundworks. Additionally, volunteers cleaned dozens of memorial plaques that had been soiled by recent flooding.
The extensive work was supported by the generous donation of 80 tonnes of aggregate sourced from two of Aggregate Industries’ Midlands-based quarries; granite from Bardon Hill in Leicestershire, England, and a decorative gravel from Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire.
Tim Dennis, Aggregate Planning Manager at Aggregate Industries, said: “The Arboretum seemed like a good fit for us, being local to our quarries and head office, much of the team being very aware of the significance of the National Memorial Arboretum, its grounds and what it stands for."
Maria Howes, Head of Marketing and Business Development at the National Memorial Arboretum, said: “Our visitors regularly tell us how deeply affected they are by the Shot at Dawn Memorial, from the symbolism of its location and layout to the individual stories of the young men who were killed. Sadly, due to its location next to the River Tame, repeated flooding events have exacerbated the deterioration of the grounds and posts which have had to be replaced several times over the years.
“Donated materials from Aggregate Industries and the effort of their team members alongside hundreds of other volunteers have been pivotal to our project to restore this iconic Shot at Dawn Memorial. Working together with our grounds team, often in challenging conditions, this force of volunteers has replaced the memorial’s 309 posts, while improving drainage and making the memorial more accessible. Their collective efforts have ensured that this memorial will be preserved for future generations.”
For more information on Aggregate Industries community efforts, please take a look at the latest sustainability report.
