The inauguration of a new war memorial took place on Thursday 20 May 2010, at the Memorial Woodlands Cemetery, Thornbury, The War memorial commemorates the service men and women from across the south west who have lost their lives in conflict since the turn of the millennium.

The ceremony was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Sir Henry Elwes and representatives from across the Services as well as a number of invited guests from the region. The service was led by Lt Col Father Andrew Lloyd, DACG 43 Wessex Brigade, in the onsite chapel, before a procession to the memorial site where the Lord Lieutenant laid a wreath alongside representatives from the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marines. A Bugler from 4 Rifles closed the service with the traditional playing of the Last Post.

The new war memorial is a circle of oak trees, in keeping with its woodland location. The trees will grow and intertwine overtime, creating a lasting legacy for hundreds of years to come.

Founder of Memorial Woodlands Christopher Baker explained, “We hope that the Memorial Woodlands will provide the perfect setting where people can come to pay their respects and honour those who have sacrificed their lives fighting for our country in Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflicts around the globe over the past decade. This living memorial is one of our time and I think people will appreciate the simple beauty of it.”