National Memorial Arboretum 2024

 The United Kingdom National Arboretum is situated in Staffordshire aims to provide a place where people can reflect, celebrate lives lived and commemorate lives lost in service.

The Arboretum site covers 150 acres of woodland and gardens planted on reclaimed land. There around  400 memorials that acknowledge the personal sacrifices made by the Armed Forces, emergency services and civilian organisations of the UK. 

The Arboretum is part of the Royal British Legion who are responsible for its maintenance and operation.

Royal British Legion Poppy Memorial

The largest memorial at the Arboretum is the Armed Forces Memorial which commemorates the 16,000 personnel who have lost their lives on active service since the Second World War. 

Armed Forces Memorial

Armed Forces Memorial

The Arboretum's memorials include civilian organisations involved in conflict. One of memorials is dedicated to the Scouts which provided messenger services, guarded key points and helped in a myriad of tasks during both World Wars,.

Boy Scout messenger World War One

Scouting Memorial

Scouting Memorial

The Arboretum's first memorial was the Polar Bear Association Memorial which was dedicated in June 1998. The Polar Bears were the 49th (West Riding) Division who were stationed in Iceland from 1941 to 1943. They deployed to Normandy in 1944 and involved in the North West Europe Campaign. It's order of battle included 70 Infantry Brigade which consisted of the 10th and 11th Battalions Durham Light Infantry and 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch).

Polar Bear Memorial IJ

Polar Bear Memorial

One of the most recent commemorations is a road named after Captain Sir Tom Moore who  raised nearly £33 million  for charity in the run-up to his 100th birthday during the COVID-19 pandemic. He served in India and the Burma campaign during the Second World War, and later became an instructor in armoured warfare. 

Captain Sir Tom Moore

The Arboretum is bounded on the East by the River Tame. The grounds contain over 50,000 trees as well as many varieties of fauna. 

National Arboretum River Tame

National Arboretum Forest

Blyth - HMS Onslaught

Blyth Community Hospital HMS Onslaught Nameplate IJ

 Blyth has a long association with the Royal Navy Submarine Service.

During the First World War it was the home port of the 11th Submarine Flotilla and submarine depot ship HMS Titania. In the Second World War the submarine base was named HMS Elfin.

On visit to Blyth in 1979 in Oberon Class submarine HMS ONSLAUGHT was given the Freedom of the Borough.

HMS Onslaught at Blyth
28 September 1979

When HMS Onslaught was paid off in 1990 her conning tower nameplate and badge were presented to Blyth Council for display in the Community Hospital. 

HMS Onslaught

Blyth Community Hospital HMS Onslaught Nameplate

Blyth War Memorials

Blyth War Memorials are located on the edge of Ridley Park in Blyth.

Blyth War Memorials

The Boer War Memorial which was was originally located at the junction of Bridge Street and Freehold Street was unveiled on 22 July 1903 by Lord Ridley.  The monument was moved to Ridley Park in 1950.

Blyth Boer War Memorial

The First World War Memorial was erected outside the Knight Memorial Hospital on Beaconsfield Street.  The Cenotaph was unveiled on 17 November 1923 by the Duke of Northumberland in commemoration of 637 servicemen from Blyth, (including New Delaval, Newsham, Bebside and Cowpen). The memorial was moved to its location in Ridley Park in 1950.

Blyth WW1 Cenotaph

The World War Two Memorial was placed in Ridley Park in 1950 and refurbished in 2018.

Blyth WW2 Memorial

Blyth WW1 and WW2 Additional Names memorial was unveiled in 2018 together with a memorial recording those lost in conflicts since 1945. 

Blyth WW1 and WW2 Additional Names Memorial

Blyth Other Conflicts Memorial

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River Blyth

Blyth 'Spirit of the Staithes' Memorial

101 Regiment RA Beating Retreat

 

Catterick Band Royal Corps of Army Music

Catterick Band Royal Corps of Army Music

101 (Northumbrian) Regiment RA
Beating Retreat

UKAF RFC - Rugby Match Kingston Park 2024

 

The UK Armed Forces Rugby team played a North East Select XV in a in a charity match at Kingston Park Stadium. The Armed Forces rugby team was selected from all three Armed Services. They played  a Select XV which drew players from Championship and National League teams throughout the north.

UKAF Match KP 2024 IJ

UKAF Match KP 2024 Fusiliers Band

UKAF Match KP 2024 Team Line Up

UKAF Match KP 2024

UKAF Match KP 2024

Newcastle Nighthawks Baseball 2024

 

Newcastle Nighthawks Baseball Opening Game 2024 IJ

Newcastle Nighthawks Baseball Opening Game 2024 First Pitch

Opening game of the NEBL 2024 Season in Newcastle was a 'derby' game between the two Newcastle Nighthawks teams, the Wings and Talon. 

The game was scoreless for the first 1hr 15 before until the Wings took the lead 0-2. At the top of the fifth the Talons loaded the bases and scored two runs batted in before hitting a gran d slam to take the lead 2-6, with a final run added before the inning ended.

Army v Navy 2024

 

The annual Army v Navy rugby game took place at Twickenham on 3rd May.  The occasion bringing together 46,000 members of the Armed Forces community. 

East Stand Pub to enjoy the pre match hospitality. 

Twickenham Stadium East Stand Pup

Rugby World Cup Winners 2003

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The Royal Artillery were well represented in the Army squad of 23 players providing seven players for the match as well as the Director of Rugby and Head Coach. 

Army V Navy 2024 

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The Navy opened strongly going ahead after five minutes with a converted try. Two further tries followed and the Navy were ahead 17-0 after fifteen minutes. Their lead was extended to 22 points before Lance Bombardier Senitiki Nayalo (7 RHA) scored the Army's first points with a try. The Navy would score another converted try before half time to lead 29-5 at half time.

Army V Navy 2024  half time Army 5 Navy 24

Whilst the Army were AWOL in the first half, they energised at the start of the second half.  Lance Bombardier Senitiki Nayalo was once again on the score sheet with a second try which was converted to narrow the Navy lead to 29 to 12.  The Army continued to apply pressure which resulted in a try by Sapper Johnson (RE) ... Navy 29 Army 17. The Army's revival continued, Staff Sergeant Horner (5 Rifles) driving over the line to score a try which was converted. The Army's 19 point start to the second half bringing the score to Navy 29 Army 24. 

It was then the Navy's turn to get back on a scoreboard. A penalty to the Navy made the score 32 to 24 in the their favour. The Navy then extended their score to 39 points with a converted try... 39 to 24. The Army responded with Lance Bombardier Senitiki Nayalo scoring his third try for a hattrick which was converted to bring the Army to 31 points. The Navy were able to add 3 points with a penalty in the 76th minute. 

With four minutes to go the Navy were leading 42 to 31 and it looked like the Senior Service would emerge victorious. An Army counter attack and a try by Lance Corporal  Solodrau Radianirova (REME) narrowed the score to Navy 42 Army 38. That was the score as the clock reached 80 minutes and it seemed the match was over.......................

However, the Army were awarded a penalty and kicked for touch. From the lineout they were able to gather the ball and a break through the Navy defence on the halfway line. A pass out to Rifleman Vereimi Qorowale (2 Rifles and a Newcastle Falcons player) resulted in a try in overtime to clinch the game by one point.

Rifleman Qorowale winning try touchdown

Army V Navy 2024  full  time Army 43 Navy 42

Army V Navy 2024  full time Army 43 Navy 42

The man of the match was Lance Bombardier Senitiki Nayalo (7 RHA) who scored three tries for the Army. 

Army V Navy 2024  Player of the Match

Army V Navy 2024  IJ  Army 43 Navy 42

ARMY v NAVY 2024