Alrewas Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, England
What is left when the guns have stopped firing. This small selection of images of the British War Memorial at Alrewas, Staffordshire is one of the things. It is vast in scale and intense in sentiment. Thousands upon thousands are represented here from across the years of conflict involving British troops. All regiments from every corner of the British Isles and it's allies in war from across the world. The memorial also contains remembrance for some, non war related deaths. I was particularly moved by the small woodland seemingly dedicated to stillborn babies and young lives tragically cut short. The size of the place indicates the significance of war and it's numerous carefully created monuments and tributes tell of the loss, the pain and the tragedy of war. The power of the symbolism here speaks volumes about the people we are and the acceptance we have of seemingly perpetual war. I'm not judgmental, but I am worried for mankind. Making these images gave me a deep feeling of sadness, pride, bewilderment and belief in the human spirit. But a mistrust in the dark forces that drive the impetus to make war.