h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Interesting piece of writing. However your last line:

'And today, in the shadow of controversial, protracted conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan where any cessation of hostilities will almost certainly lack a definite sense of victory, memorials to war dead may once again take on a greater significance than at any time since the end of the First World War'.

I think you will find it hard to find any mention of the War dead on memorials from after WW2. For example, I've never seen any memorial to Korea, Malaysia, Cyprus. Let alone Northern Ireland, Falklands.

Also, on a small point Many Memorials from WW2, seem to be 'afterthoughts' added on to WW1 Memorials. So why would Afghanistan, and Iraq be treated any differently, when they eventually cease?

***I think you will find it hard to find any mention of the War dead on memorials from after WW2. For example, I've never seen any memorial to Korea, Malaysia, Cyprus. Let alone Northern Ireland, Falklands.

Also, on a small point Many Memorials from WW2, seem to be 'afterthoughts' added on to WW1 Memorials. So why would Afghanistan, and Iraq be treated any differently, when they eventually cease?***

Rather rash comments and factually incorrect.

A36869575 The National Memorial Arboretum (UK)

The Memorial Arboretum covers all wars/conflict since World War II including civillian services. Current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are also catered for.

Actually, I tend to agree that memorials since WW1 haven't been as important. In fact, I meant that to be a main point of the article.

WW1: massive involvement of population, lots of deaths, not very satisfactory ending/ no feeling of victory = massive emotional (and actual) investment in war memorials.

WW2: massive involvement of population, lots of deaths (albeit fewer proportionally) BUT definite sense of victory and acomplishment (not to mention actual rewards for population in form of the welfare state) = no need for such investment.

Other wars also too small and/ or successful to warrent outpouring of memorials on a huge basis.

However, it seemed to me that the Iraq/ Afgahn wars were reaching the point of being long and pointless enought for people to start... ah, sentimentalising (for want of a better word) their frustration in memorials again. No need for new ones, though - still got the WW1 ones and their importance to Remeberance Day. Which seemed to have lost its way there for a while, but seems to have taken on a new lease of life. Of course, I might just be imagining that. I also note with interest that there seems to be a gathering of momentum around the veterans who make it back alive too - I've always thought the emphasis on the dead in this country is a bit of a cop out.

That said, I strongly suspect that this will all get pushed aside for the duration of the credit crunch, as far as the general population is concerned. Who cares about the sufferrings of people we don't know far away when we might not be able to afford our credit card bills next year?

And I've just had a look at the Arboretum entry and it was built in 2007, which does rather support my argument about the resurgence of memorialisation. Thought it was quite recent.

Sorry. I mean the Armed Forces bit was done then.

Rather rash comments and factually incorrect.

A36869575 The National Memorial Arboretum (UK)

The Memorial Arboretum covers all wars/conflict since World War II including civillian services. Current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are also catered for.
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One Memorial for the War dead from 1945? Not seen any mention on the various memorials I have seen. As for the WW2 as an 'afterthought' If you look at war memorials, you will notce that they are in the main designed after WW1, the war dead of WW2 are normally a much smaller plaque, (as thankfully there were less killed) attached to the base, or on a small space above the WW1 dead. So I stand by my assertion. If WW2 dead had had a seperate memorial made for them, then I would not see them as an 'afterthought'. Sorry!