Just a thought....

On Plymouth Hoe there is a memorial to those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. I always find these memorials moving - be they the Cenotaph in London, the plaques in the railway museum in Swindon that list the dead from each of the workshops in the GWR works or the stone crosses you find in tiny villages with only one or two names on. But I must say this memorial is one of the most impressive and moving. It lists, I think, 23,000 names of all those who sailed from Plymouth and lost their lives. Everyone is listed by the name of the vessel and rank, also listed are all the types of craft and the campaigns and battles. As well as some magnificent art deco lions there are some larger than lifesize statues of various seamen. It is a magnificent and fitting tribute to all those who fought in the World Wars.

Reading some of the names is sobering and inspiring, but also a timely reminder that it wasn't just the British that sailed from the port, but Austrailians, Canadians, Indians and sailors from every far flung corner of the old empire. If you're in Plymouth go and spend a few minutes there (or go and have a look at any war memorial) and you cannot fail to be moved.