The Memorial

The erection of this memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum will ensure that the great work and selfless dedication of those Royal Air Force Bomb Disposal personnel will be forever remembered. The funding for the project came from the generosity of the community, public and corporate donations.

Materials Used:
Natural Steel
Powder coated Steel
Stainless Steel

Name of Designers
Michael Haygarth & Philip Hunt with construction carried out By Roll and Scroll, Grantham,Lincs.
 
Age of Memorial
The construction was completed in December 2023.

A dedication ceremony was held on 21st February 2024, conducted by Sqn Ldr Stewart Shaw RAF Padre, with over 200 veterans, friends and family attending.

“To keep the memory of all those who served on Royal Air Force Bomb Disposal alive and to ensure their service to the country will never be forgotten.”

— The story

Symbolism and Meaning


The memorial depicts the badge worn by all Royal Air Force Bomb Disposal personnel and a simple inscription detailing the years throughout which the Royal Air Force Bomb Disposal capability was in existence, the badge and inscription are cut out to allow the light to shine through, it is intentionally angled towards the Armed Forces Memorial, the badge shadow bowing in salute. To the right-hand side of the Bomb Disposal Badge is a tail unit from a British 1000lb bomb, set in a position that many operators would have approached, knowing the danger buried beneath. The base is a natural steel plate which, over time, will rust and this colour contrast will add to the charm and impact of the memorial. It will signify the thousands of items of buried and rusting ordnance that Royal Air Force Bomb Disposal has dealt with over the years.

A simple stainless-steel plaque on the base is inscribed with the words – “Dedicated to those who served to make the Harmful Harmless”. The words signify the role of the Bomb Disposal personnel and are a salute to the motto of the final Royal Air Force Bomb Disposal Squadron to remain operational until its disbandment in 2020.

Number 5131 (Bomb Disposal) Squadron: whose motto was “E Nocentibus Innocentia” which translates to “Out of Harmful things, Harmless things”.

Without the generosity of everyone who answered the call this memorial would not have happened, thank you.

Corporate donors: