New war memorial for Greenham Business Park

The memorial will be a tribute to the American airmen who lost their lives in a glider crash above Greenham Common in December 1944 and also those of a flying fortress American crew, killed a few days later during a mid air collision above the airbase.Funded mainly by Greenham Common Trust, who have contributed around £20,000 to the project, costs include £7,000 for the memorial, plus additional costs for ground works, car parking and planting.
Trust spokesman Julian May said: "We recognise the enormous contribution British and American soldiers played during the Second World War. Their courage and bravery was to protect our freedom and Greenham Common played an important part in the campaign. We hope that the memorial will not only act as a way of remembering the young men who tragically gave their lives for future generations but act as a reminder of the truly grave horrors of war."
The Newbury branch of the Royal British Legion has also raised £2,000 towards the project, and branch secretary, Keith Williams, said appeals had been made worldwide for contributions, including to the president of the USA and Pentagon, with most of the donations received from the American family members of the airmen who died.
“We hold a memorial service at Greenham Common every year, on December 12,” said Mr Williams.
The Welsh slate memorial, comprising three different pieces, each about six feet high, is being made by Stone Art Memorials, Kings Road, a collaboration between proprietor, Joss Nankoo and co-designer, Luke Webb.
One piece of the design features a glider and the names of the crew members who died, and another a drawing of the American flying fortress plane and crew member’s names, with the centre piece a tribute to American servicemen stationed locally during the war.
Family members of the airmen who died and local airmen are to be invited to the autumn unveiling ceremony.