James Gray

Conservative Party | Wiltshire North

MP calls for the Camp Bastion War Memorial to be returned to Wootton Bassett

22 April 2009

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 (see attached).

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.