North Wiltshire MP James Gray has called for the war memorial, which is currently at Camp Bastion, to be moved to Wootton Bassett High Street when the camp finally closes, as a way of recognising the way the town pays its respects to repatriated bodies of our fallen servicemen.

During Tuesday’s debate on Armed Forces Veterans, Mr Gray said, “there is talk of returning the magnificent and beautiful war memorial at Camp Bastion to the UK when the camp finally closes. The memorial consists of stones from the desert, topped with a cross made of spent cartridges from heavy machine guns. It is a superb war memorial, and there has been some discussion about where it might go in the UK. Given that it carries the names of those whose bodies have been carried through Wootton Bassett, the high street might be a suitable location, in the long term. That might be a way of recognising the town’s mark of respect.”

After the debate Mr Gray wrote to the Minister repeating the request.

During a busy week, in which Mr Gray spoke on Defence Procurement, Armed Forces Veterans, and the annual report of the Service Complaints Commissioner, Mr Gray also continued to press the Government on issues such as the future of RAF Lyneham, the A400M, Ghurkhas, and veterans in prison. 

Please click on the links below to see Mr Gray's contributions this week in Parliamentary debates

http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090420/debtext/90420-0018.htm

http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090421/halltext/90421h0002.htm#090421100000477

http://pubs1.tso.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090422/halltext/90422h0002.htm#09042266000446

Letter to Kevan Jones MP at the Ministry of Defence
22nd April 2009

Kevan Jones Esq., MP,
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Veterans),
Ministry of Defence,
Floor 5, Main Building,
Whitehall,
London, SW1A 2HB.

Dear Kevan,

Further to my comments in the Westminster Hall debate yesterday, I was glad that you agreed with me and with the people of Wootton Bassett that it would be wholly inappropriate to rename the road through which the hearses from RAF Lyneham pass “Highway for Heroes,” which has been proposed on the No.10 website, amongst other places.

However I know that you and other Ministers might be prepared to mark the tributes which the people of Wootton Bassett have paid over the years in another and much more appropriate way which has been suggested to me. I understand that the very handsome War Memorial which is currently in Camp Bastion will be returned to the UK at whatever stage in the future it is that we leave Afghanistan. That War Memorial of course bears the names of most of the fallen servicemen whose bodies have passed down the Wootton Bassett High Street, and there is a highly appropriate spot, just below the historic Town Hall - and adjacent to the existing War Memorial - which would be an entirely fitting location for it.

I wonder if there might be a way in which the officials responsible for these matters in the MoD might be ready to promise at this stage to relocate the war memorial from Camp Bastion in that way. We would realise that that would be many years in the future, but I know the people of Wootton Bassett would very much welcome that small and highly appropriate gesture. I would be interested to know your thoughts.

Yours ever,
James

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