Home

What's New

Pensions & Compensation

Service Records, Medals & Badges

Welfare, Support & Contact

Special Support Programmes

Armed Forces Memorial

Veterans Community

Raising Awareness

Veterans World

Vets Advisory & Pensions Cttees

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

See the development of the Memorial in pictures

The Secretary of State for Defence made a statement in the House of Commons on 10 November 2000 that there was insufficient recognition of members of the Armed Forces killed on duty since the Second World War and that a new national memorial would be constructed. He also confirmed that the memorial would be funded by public subscription and that a period of consultation would follow.

Following a period of extensive consultation with the Services and ex-Services community it was concluded that a new national memorial should be constructed - to be known as the Armed Forces Memorial.

A Board of Trustees of the Armed Forces Memorial Trust was established in November 2003 to take responsibility for the project.

A competition for the design of the Memorial was completed in December 2004. Entries were received from around the world and, from a field of 45, the winning design was selected and received approval from the Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales. The Prince's Foundation was closely involved in the design process. The winning design was unveiled at the Imperial War Museum in April 2005.

An appeal was launched in April 2005 by the Chairman of the Armed Forces Memorial Trust, Vice Admiral Sir John Dunt KCB. A total of £7 million was raised to complete the project including grants of £2,416,500 from the Millennium Commission and a grant of £1,500,000 from HM Treasury. Several very substantial donations were made and there was widespread support from the public, most notably from the readers of The Sun and The Daily Mail.